Case Study of Degrading Permafrost beneath a Road Embankment

Abstract

This paper reports on a case study of degrading permafrost beneath a road embankment in Northern Manitoba, Canada. Field measurements of ground temperatures for a three-year monitoring period have been used in calibrating the geothermal model developed to reproduce the conditions and trends in the subsurface thermal regime beneath the embankment. The numerical model was used to investigate the future ground thermal regime of the foundation and evaluate the potential impacts of embankment construction and climate change. Particular interest was paid to the foundation soil near the toe of embankment where relatively rapid permafrost degradation was occurring.