The Lovozero tundra
Photo:
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
North of Russia Will Suffer from Warming
Damage in the Russian North from global warming may reach catastrophic levels by 2030, reports First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Ruslan Tsalikov. “By 2030, the level of destruction tied to global warming may be catastrophic. For example, more than a quarter of the housing stock [in the north of the country] may be ruined,” Tsalikov said Thursday at a roundtable at the Federation Council.
According to Tsalikov, destruction from the thawing of permafrost may affect the airports through which the main deliveries of cargo to the North take place and the natural underground reservoirs of oil. “With an increase of one or two degrees in the average annual temperature, the load-bearing of pilings sunk into the permafrost will be reduced by 50 percent,” he said. Tsalikov said that the permafrost in Western Siberia is thawing at a rate of 4 cm. per year now, and its border will move 80 km. to the north in the next 20 years.
Another problem associated with global warming is increased flood risks. “By 2015, the drainage of rivers will grow by 90 percent and the freezing period of northern rivers will shorten by 15-20 days. That will double flood risks,” Tsalikov said. In addition, more methane will be released from the soil as the permafrost melts. Russia has methane reserves of 70 billion tons, which is two-thirds of the world’s reserves.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
