Bent Roads and Sinkholes: Thawing Permafrost Costs the Arctic Billions

In 10 seconds? Researchers came up with estimates on how much economic damage thawing permafrost could cause in two arctic regions and how this is linked to climate-related changes in the seafloor.

What's the story? A recent study looked at the infrastructural damage permafrost degradation will cause by the end of the century in the US state of Alaska and the Yamal region of Russia to buildings, pipelines and roads. The scientists used field observations, remote sensing and economic models and found that Alaska is likely to be hit by a cost between $5.3-$7.6 billion and Yamal will have an even larger impact, $7.6-$11.9 billion - depending on the level of global warming. Their conclusion: authorities need to invest more in infrastructure adaptation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lower the economic impact of climate change in the Arctic.