Sea Coast of the Western Part of the Russian Arctic under Climate Change: Dynamics, Technogenic Influence and Potential Economic Damage

Abstract

The Arctic coast dynamics has been an urgent problem over the last years, from both a practical and a fundamental point of view. In this research, for the first time for the Russian Arctic coast, we assessed the damage from the loss of territories in the western part of the Russian Arctic, where the active production and transportation of hydrocarbon material are carried out. Most of the studied coastline is composed of frozen unlithified soils with inclusions of underground ice. In this regard, the coastal zone is highly sensitive to climate change and its economic consequences. According to our investigation and literature data, the erosion rates could rich up to 2–3 m/year in some part of the coastline. Having estimated the cadastral cost of land and the area of the possible loss of territory, as well as the cost of transport infrastructure in the risk zone, we tried to predict the damage from changes in the total structure of the area under consideration. In particular, the economic damages from coastal permafrost processes were estimated. The assessment was conducted for the middle of the 21st century, taking into account the current climatic trend, erosion rate and probable maximum warming in this region.

Coastal Dynamics at Kharasavey Key Site, Kara Sea, Based on Remote Sensing Data

“…In the following years, serious landscape transformation was completed including the excavation of sediment from beach and tideflat for purpose of settlement construction, dredging for shipping, etc. [20,43]. In the period of 1977-1982, a dramatic intensification of coastal retreat at the erosional coast occurred, especially at the southwestern part of the study area (in the alignment of Cape Kharasavey) on permafrost bluffs that composed of the icy loams (cluster 3-3).…”

“…Exploitation of the study area has begun in 1976 with the construction of Kharasavey and Karskoe (abandoned) rotation camps. Since the 1970s landscapes near Kharasavey settlement were significantly transformed [43]. Engineering constructions within main settlement include sand mounds (height is up to 3 m) for residential buildings and network of drilling platforms, sand embankments (up to 5 m) for linear constructions (pipelines, roads, etc.)…”

“…Reduced vegetation, hydraulic works and landform alteration lead to widespread intensification of surface processes, such as thermokarst, landslides, gully erosion and solifluction. Rapid gully formation within coastal zone, for example, demanded to use construction waste as a backshore sea defense [43]. The surface of laida near Cape Burunniy is penetrated by quarries and dumps of hydraulic sand fill.…”

Exposure of Arctic coastal settlements to coastal erosion and permafrost warming

“…The assessment of infrastructure damage and associated costs within coastal areas needs to be assessed in order to quantify economic consequences (D. A. Streletskiy et al, 2019b;Buzard et al, 2021;Ogorodov et al, 2023).…”

Hydrodynamic Analysis-Based Modeling of Coastal Abrasion Prevention (Case Study: Pulau Baai Port, Bengkulu)

“…The sedimentation rate along the coastline of Pulau Baai port reaches staggering proportions, with estimates ranging from 600,000 to 800,000 m 3 /year, while coastal abrasion steadily encroaches at a rate of up to 20 m/year [3,[13][14][15][16]. The most severe siltation occurs at the port's entrance channel, and if left unchecked, it could have severe consequences, including disruptions to economic sectors and the potential exposure of existing pipeline installations along its shoreline [17][18][19]. This is due to the main access to the port being hindered by siltation or erosion along the coast [20,21].…”