Numerical study of mining activity and climate change impact on permafrost in Northern Canada ...

• Main Author: Booshehrian, Ahmad
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Graduate Studies 2017
• Subjects: Engineering > Civil; Permafrost; Talik; Climate Change; Nunavut; permafrost; Thermokarst
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/27145; https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/11023/3780

The presence of permafrost and its susceptibility to naturally freeze and thaw under changes in the environment is a major problem in cold regions encompassing nearly 50% of Canada land surface. The excavation of open pit mines in permafrost with subsequent filling with tailings and water presents a scenario similar to a thermokarst lake that causes a local drift from ground temperatures, thus resulting in talik formation. This thesis is concerned with the numerical analysis of permafrost degradation and its consequences within the permafrost zone due to mining activities and climate change. The Kiggavik uranium mine project in Nunavut, Canada where four open pit mines will be excavated into deep permafrost is chosen as a case study for which extensive data is publicly available. Incrementally complex hydro-thermal models were developed within the finite element framework. Short-term studies indicate that for different considered scenarios during the mine operation period drastic changes are not expected. ...