Permafrost researchers at the Northern Climate ExChange, of the Yukon Research Centre, have completed a study on the state of the permafrost under the North Alaska Highway. They have found that over eighty percent of the permafrost that lies beneath the highway between Burwash Landing and Beaver Creek is moderately or highly vulnerable to thaw in a changing climate. This research, conducted in partnership with Government of Yukon’s Highways and Public Works (HPW), will support highway maintenance and planning.
The Northern Climate ExChange (NCE) of the Yukon Research Centre was awarded $122,502 from Natural Resources Canada to lead a cost-benefit analysis of adaptation options for a mine access road in the Northwest Territories. This project will help the NCE take climate change adaptation planning to a new level for industry.
NCE is working with a multi-disciplinary team from Risk Sciences International, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and Nodelcorp, to study the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter ice road. This road provides access to three active mines in the Northwest Territories and is one of the longest and heavily used ice roads in the world.
The Northern Climate ExChange (NCE) of the Yukon Research Centre has just received $186,499 from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to conduct research on permafrost and infrastructure in Ross River, Yukon.
Permafrost thaw has damaged Ross River infrastructure and this research aims to better understand which buildings are vulnerable to permafrost and how to manage existing buildings and future construction in a changing climate.
WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Research Centre (YRC) is leading the Yukon in climate change hazards planning. Three more Yukon communities have partnered with the YRC to study the effects of climate change on their future planning and development.
The Ross River Dena Council, the Town of Faro, the City of Dawson and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in are partnering with the Northern Climate ExChange at the Yukon Research Centre, the Yukon Geological Survey and the universities of Ottawa and Montreal, to undertake a two-year landscape hazards mapping project in their communities.
“Climate change has the potential to impact our infrastructure and our economy and with limited information on landscape hazards, we are very keen to work with the YRC and create a tool for future planning,” said the Honourable Heather Campbell, Mayor, Town of Faro.