91制片厂

DURHAM, N.H.鈥擜laska and many other areas of the Arctic experience thousands of earthquakes with different magnitudes every year putting infrastructure and residents in the region at risk. As part of a $3 million collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation, scientists at the 91制片厂 were awarded over $1.69 million to lead research examining how climate change in the Arctic鈥攚hich is warming at four times the rate of other places鈥攃ould negatively affect the area鈥檚 infrastructure from seismic events and how it could impact the preparedness and response to earthquake-related disasters.

鈥淲hile there is seismic activity and threats of earthquakes across the country, the accelerated warming in the Arctic along with the remoteness of the region and the unique culture of the local and Indigenous communities can pose distinct challenges,鈥� said Majid Ghayoomi, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and principal investigator. 鈥淥ur goal is to take a holistic approach to help the community be prepared in this changing environment.鈥�

The research project, part of the NSF鈥檚 Navigating the New Arctic initiative, will involve cross-disciplinary research teams from five universities; 11 Alaskan, national and international partners; and five native communities that will investigate the potential impact of earthquakes on local communities, the state of Alaska, and other Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. They will work together to assess the seismic risk of natural environment and built infrastructure, as well as social systems and policies. The project will focus on seismic activity, under climate-driven changes of the Arctic, by monitoring and modeling key infrastructure鈥攍ike vital bridges and shipping ports鈥攖o simulate and evaluate the impact of permafrost thawing and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles on soils, buildings and foundations to prevent significant damage. The team will work with the communities in the Copper River Valley Region to develop their climate adaptation plans.

Researchers will engage with the community鈥攃onducting interviews, surveys and workshops鈥攖o help identify and provide them with the necessary training and tools to manage future earthquake-related disasters including planning, preparedness, mitigation and recovery skills and plans. Outreach and education will be used to help prepare future generations by establishing learning opportunities like youth training camps and STEM research experiences for Indigenous youth.

鈥淭his project has the potential to transform and stimulate research that could lead to breakthroughs in fundamental science and engineering, informed by the community and Indigenous people, to address and improve earthquake-related hurdles facing the new Arctic and possibly other cold region environments,鈥� said Ghayoomi.

Other team members from 91制片厂 are Katharine Duderstadt, research scientist and co-principal investigator; Yashar Eftekhar Azam, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; Fei Han, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; and Lawrence Hamilton, professor of sociology.

Collaborative institutions include the University of Georgia, Pennsylvania State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Virginia.

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