To: NormsRevenge
Not to support the chicken-little aspects of this; but, melting permafrost can be a major pain in the far north.
Houses, in permafrost areas, have to be thermally isolated from the permafrost -- lest it thaws and refreezes. When it melts, the ground becomes gumbo. When it refreezes, huge frost heaves result. Most northern housing is built on crib-work, or jacks -- to keep it above the ground, and so that it can be re-leveled every spring.
Some newer housing is built on space frames, or as a torsion box (rigid plywood covered unit). The entire house shifts with the frost heaves; but it doesn't twist apart like ordinary wood-frame houses do. Each year, the foundation jacks are readjusted -- sometimes by a few feet.
To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
Not to support the chicken-little aspects of this; but, melting permafrost can be a major pain in the far north. Houses, in permafrost areas, have to be thermally isolated from the permafrost -- lest it thaws and refreezes. When it melts, the ground becomes gumbo. When it refreezes, huge frost heaves result. Most northern housing is built on crib-work, or jacks -- to keep it above the ground, and so that it can be re-leveled every spring. True, for the inhabited areas this will be a challenge for some time to come. I remember such problems from my days in Alaska...
It is a fact of life that the Earth's climate has cycled through temperature shifts throughout it's existence and (though disrupted) life adjusts and carries on...
37 posted on
12/26/2005 7:59:12 PM PST by
ExSES
(the "bottom-line")
To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
I live within 50 miles of arctic circle. The permafrost is discontinuous until you get a few hundred yards behind our house. We have a cement foundation and sure is nice downstairs when its in 90's in summer. I think much of the fear for permafrost is exaggerated. Its been melting for a long time and I don't see much change where we live.
We usually see 5-6 weeks of minus 50 F starting nx month. The change and extremes in temps is hard on everything.
44 posted on
12/26/2005 9:52:47 PM PST by
Eska
To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
I was wondering about the effect that thawing of permafrost would have on buildings, etc. I would think that this could be serious in places like Anchorage [not sure how deep the permafrost is there] or Fairbanks. This would affect not only foundations but sewer systems, water mains and other underground utilities, oil pipelines, etc.
59 posted on
12/27/2005 6:12:59 AM PST by
Clara Lou
(A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged by reality. --I. Kristol)
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson