Thawing Arctic Permafrost, Emerging Risks: Managing Critical Infrastructure, Cultural Heritage, and Mountain Slopes Under Climate Change (ThawingLYR)

ThawingLYR is developing the necessary knowledge base for sustainable management of critical infrastructure, cultural heritage and mountainsides in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The area is strongly affected by climate change, which is leading to warming permafrost and increased risk of natural hazards.

The project is interdisciplinary and combines geosciences, social sciences, computer science and geoengineering. The social science approach will ensure that local knowledge, population experiences and institutional conditions are integrated into analyses and solutions.

Mapping, monitoring, modeling and risk assessment are carried out in collaboration with local authorities, the museum, businesses and residents.

The main result will be a digital climate and permafrost response system, with real-time data on temperature, water content, terrain movements and meteorology – developed for practical use in Longyearbyen. The system also includes adapted landslide models and explores new methods such as passive seismic.

ThawingLYR builds on previous projects and will provide Arctic communities with better tools to address permafrost-related challenges.