DURHAM, N.H.—Alaska 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 University of New Hampshire were awarded over $1.69 million to lead research examining how climate change in the Arctic—which is warming at four times the rate of other places—could negatively affect the area’s infrastructure from seismic events and how it could impact the preparedness and response to earthquake-related disasters.

“While 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,” said Majid Ghayoomi, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and principal investigator. “Our goal is to take a holistic approach to help the community be prepared in this changing environment.”

The research project, part of the NSF’s 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—like vital bridges and shipping ports—to 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—conducting interviews, surveys and workshops—to 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.

“This 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,” said Ghayoomi.

Other team members from UNH 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.

The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. A Carnegie Classification R1 institution, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, and received $260 million in competitive external funding in FY21 to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.