Utility Poles Leaning

Mike Brubaker writes:

It’s been a year since I hiked up this trail and I noticed that some of the utility poles are beginning to lean. I thought this might be informative for authorities if this has not already been reported. I wonder whether permafrost thaw is a factor in this area, or if there is some other cause. We do see strong winds annually in this area.

LEO says:

Permafrost thaw, and heave from freeze-thaw cycles, often impact the stability of infrastructure across Alaska. This observation was forwarded to Chugach Electric service, who has located the poles and dispatched a work order to straighten them.

Resources:

Researchers from EPA, the University of Alaska, and others, published a paper titled, "Climate change damages to Alaska public infrastructure and the economics of proactive adaptation." They found that warming temperatures across Alaska impact the stability of infrastructure. Structures built on discontinuous permafrost, found in the Anchorage area, face a greater near-term risk of thaw settlement, compared to structures built on continuous permafrost. Temperature increase may also change the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles, which alter the stability of underground foundations. Read the full paper here.

The Cold Climate Housing Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks provides a variety of research and resources available to those building in Alaska's climate. Of particular interest is the Permafrost Technology Foundation Library. There are ten case studies available examining houses that have experienced settling.