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Applicability of sustainable energy-driven and permafrost-friendly embankment designs from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Siberian Arctic

Author

Listed:
  • Zhou, Yanqiao
  • Zhang, Mingyi
  • Lai, Yuanming
  • Harbor, Jon
  • Pei, Wansheng
  • Bai, Ruiqiang
  • You, Zhilang
  • Li, Renwei
  • Chen, Yanyan
  • Li, Guanji
  • Ran, Jiachuan

Abstract

Historically, the Siberian Arctic (SA) permafrost has maintained remarkable thermal stability, leading to a lack of permafrost-coexistent embankment designs. Under future climate scenarios, inappropriate embankments may exacerbate permafrost degradation, threatening SA's transport infrastructure sustainability. Adopting Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP)'s proven sustainable energy-driven and permafrost-friendly embankment designs is promising. Our findings suggest that under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, adopting typical QTP embankments could preserve about 93.4% of the SA's permafrost between 2021 and 2040. Alarmingly, this protective effect diminishes over time—dropping to just 50.5% by the end of the century. These figures point to both the promise and the limitations of such designs, reinforcing the need for further, region-specific assessments.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Yanqiao & Zhang, Mingyi & Lai, Yuanming & Harbor, Jon & Pei, Wansheng & Bai, Ruiqiang & You, Zhilang & Li, Renwei & Chen, Yanyan & Li, Guanji & Ran, Jiachuan, 2026. "Applicability of sustainable energy-driven and permafrost-friendly embankment designs from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Siberian Arctic," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:346:y:2026:i:c:s0360544226004494
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2026.140346
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    References listed on IDEAS

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