The Subarctic City: Metropolitisation, Abandoned Towns and Increases of Risk Vulnerabilities

• Main Author: Gadal, Sébastien
• Other Authors: Études des Structures, des Processus d’Adaptation et des Changements de l’Espace (ESPACE), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Avignon Université (AU)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (. - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Polar Urban Centers PUR, SPSU
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: Arctic; Subarctic; Metropolisation; Abandoned cities; Sustainable Developement; Globalisation; Risk Exposure; Remote Sensing; Yakutsk; geo; envir; Mirnyj; Sakha; Tiksi; Climate change; Global warming; Ice; lena river; permafrost; Republic of Sakha; Yakutia; Siberia
• Online Access: https://hal-amu.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01915731

International audience Arctic and Subarctic cities and settlements depend of the economic, political and societal changes. In the Siberian arctic and subarctic territories as in Yakutia, the dynamics of urbanisation and un-urbanisation are strong. Abandoned mine’s tows, stable cities (Mirnyj), partially abandoned like Tiksi, fast urban growth and metropolisation in Yakutsk. Adaptation to the climate change, globalization and societal transformations constitute a heavy challenge, notably to the sustainable development issues. The Yakutsk region of Eastern Siberia has experienced unprecedented urbanization growth over the last 25 years with more than 330000 inhabitants in 2016 out of a total population of about 980000 people in the Republic of Sakha. It is located along the Lena River on the permafrost bioclimatic belt, which is subject to annual flooding of the ice breakup. The territory in Yakutsk metropolitan area is also dramatically impacted by water and aerosol pollution ("smoke" effects). The effects of global warming are de facto increasing the exposure of urban and peri-urban populations to the multi-dimensional risks associated with permafrost (weakening and collapse of buildings). Annual flooding of ice breakups in peri-urban areas can cause their destruction as in 1950’s and 1960’s in a context of urban growth and densification (verticalisation) often on sandy soils and subject to partial thaw. In addition, in urban areas, exposure to epidemiological risks linked to soil thaw can be a hidden issue or simply ignored. Thus, in addition to the effects of the Lena flood-break-up, localities are likely to increase the environmental risk and themselves become sources of local and global pollution. By exposing their own populations to risks, they reinforce the effects of global warming through their economic activities (shipping, mining industries, etc.). In light of these questions, there is the question of the coping capacities / resilience of circumpolar populations and cities with multiple risks and for ...