Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Permafrost Dynamics Due To Historical Vegetation Removal and Subsequent Re-growth at Farmers Loop Road Experiment Station, Fairbanks, Alaska  (Permafrost Dynamics Due To Vegetation Removal and re-growth)

Outline
This project will quantify the geological and vegetative boundaries at a site that was de-vegetated and studied in the 1950s and now vegetation has become established again. The site is the Farmers Loop Road Experiment Station (FLR) in Fairbanks Alaska and is owned by the Engineering Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (ERDC-CRREL). The site comprises 135 acres of ice-rich permafrost soils that have historically been used for the study of structure foundation design on warm, fine-grained frozen ground. It was recently designated a National Geotechnical Experiment Site. We will compile previously generated data regarding permafrost nature and extent and examine and document infrastructure remaining from previous experiments conducted FLR. We will also perform an assessment of the site as it is currently. Soil, engineering properties of the soil, permafrost extent and nature, and ground water table will be surveyed and reported. The extent and vegetation type will be mapped as will all remaining infrastructure. By performing a current assessment, historical changes in the permafrost nature and extent can be established and the information provided to the Arctic research community. Permafrost boundaries have not been measured at the site for some time, and in areas where vegetation was removed in the past, it is unknown whether permafrost degradation has continued or abated, or whether permafrost has aggraded. This project will establish the extent of the active layer and the current depth to permafrost, especially in the ‘Linell Plots’--three one-acre plots on which the vegetation was removed to varying degrees, and the permafrost degradation recorded. This study began in 1946 with observations through 1972, and results were published for the 2nd International Conference on Permafrost, Yakutsk, USSR, 1973. How the permafrost has responded to the re-vegetation of the plots since that time is not known, and this information would add knowledge to the understanding of the role that vegetation plays in permafrost dynamics over time. In addition, to the knowledge of how permafrost has been influenced by the interaction of climate and de-vegetation and re-growth, FLR is a venue for engineering studies such as the design of new structures or remediation of current structures placed on warm permafrost. Its status as a National Geotechnical Experimentation Site (NGES) highlights this. A current comprehensive assessment will allow researchers to plan future projects with the assurance that the site meets their particular needs. Any data generated by this project will be made available to the international geotechnical community through the NGES program. FLR may also be a good location for long term permafrost monitoring (GTP-N). If this is desired by the IPY, the installation of necessary instrumentation to incorporate it in the long term monitoring networks can be done under the auspices of this project.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Themes 1 and 2 FLR is a historical permafrost study site and can provide information about the impact of climate change and human activities and their interaction on warm permafrost. Documentation of current conditions and comparison with those of past records will advance the understanding of the engineering consequences of degrading permafrost.. The establishment of FLR as a node in the GTN-P network may also allow for increased resolution in those networks and add current data to a site that has been monitored in the past for permafrost extent.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Countries with significant amounts of warm permafrost that will likely encounter large scale degradation are Canada and Russia as well as the U.S. No international ties have been established at this time.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Farmers Loop Road Experiment Station, Fairbanks, Alaska. Located within 10 miles of an international airport, and within 5 miles of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The site is also located within 5 miles of the Fairbanks office of ERDC-CRREL, which has laboratory and cold room facilities.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/06 – 09/08            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The logistics support and facilities are in place. Future projects may require additional infrastructure, which may be shared with this and other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
A legacy of infrastructure exists at the site, and any future studies will leave further appurtenances.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Military support
Commercial operator
Own support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No-It is a National Geotechnical Experimentation Site, which gives it status as a site of particular interest in geotechnical proposals to the NSF and FHWA.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organised and managed internally by ERDC-CRREL through the Fairbanks and Hanover, New Hampshire labs.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education involving the Engineering and Geology Departments at the University of Alaska as well as the NGES program will be initiated. There will be opportunities for college students to initiate large scale infrastructure research projects, warm permafrost data collection, analysis and reporting, and study of the long term impact of vegetation on warm permafrost.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Required data management efforts will be minimal regarding this project. All information gathered will be reported in text and available electronically. Any permafrost information will be shared with The International Permafrost Association and any other interested parties.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Not identified at present.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
In addition to the project outlined above, researchers looking for a warm permafrost venue will possibly consider FLR for their research either as part of the IPY activities or as independent studies. The project intent is to reintegrate FLR into the permafrost research community as well as the geotechnical community and capitalize on the wealth of historical information available for this location.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Research Civil Engineer Kevin Bjella
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
72 Lyme Road Hanover, NH
03755
USA

Tel: 603-646-4608
Mobile: no
Fax: 603-646-4477
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation