A new geophysical investigation in the Arctic lowland town of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, reveals that common infrastructure and land use may be accelerating thaw and destabilization of near-surface permafrost much more than previously understood. 

The study, led by researchers at the University of Virginia and the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, applied integrated geophysical methods alongside thaw probing to characterize the extent of permafrost degradation across four distinct land-use types. 

The study, published in EGUsphere, was conducted by a multidisciplinary team and published by Valentina Ekimova, a Climate Fellow at the Environmental Institute and part of the Arctic Climate Collaborative. Co‐authors include MacKenzie A. Nelson, Howard E. Epstein, and Matthew G. Jull of UVA, Taylor Sullivan and Thomas A. Douglas of the US Army ERDC Cold Regions Laboratory. 

Through their research, the team found that the effects of local infrastructure and land-use change can amplify near-surface permafrost thaw under ongoing climate warming.

“In Arctic communities, permafrost and infrastructure must coexist,” said Ekimova. “These regions are warming rapidly, and it is important we better understand how infrastructure-related surface changes are linked to patterns of permafrost thaw.”

This work strengthens the understanding that permafrost in Arctic communities isn’t just responding to broad climate trends: it is highly sensitive to surface conditions altered by human activity. By showing how roads, buildings, and snow fences modify heat and moisture flows into the ground, the study highlights the need for localized assessments of ground stability and thaw risk.

This information will be of use to urban planners and engineers as they design infrastructure in permafrost regions. Part of the process can include site characterization in the early design stages to identify zones of ice-rich ground and thaw susceptibility.

Additionally, communities like Utqiaġvik may need to revisit land‐use zoning, snow‐management (e.g., snow fences), and drainage design as part of their climate adaptation strategies.

As Ekimova stated, “What happens beneath the surface in Arctic towns is deeply connected to how we shape the surface itself. Recognizing that link is the first step toward developing infrastructure and adaptation strategies that can withstand a changing climate.”