Evolution of Secondary Periglacial Environment Induced by Thawing Permafrost near China–Russia Crude Oil Pipeline Based on Airborne LiDAR, Geophysics, and Field Observation
Kai Gao,
Guoyu Li,
Fei Wang,
Yapeng Cao,
Dun Chen,
Qingsong Du,
Mingtang Chai,
Alexander Fedorov,
Juncen Lin,
Yunhu Shang,
Shuai Huang,
Xiaochen Wu,
Luyao Bai,
Yan Zhang,
Liyun Tang,
Hailiang Jia,
Miao Wang,
Xu Wang
Affiliations
Kai Gao
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Guoyu Li
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Fei Wang
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Yapeng Cao
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Dun Chen
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Qingsong Du
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Mingtang Chai
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Alexander Fedorov
Melnikov Permafrost Institute, SB RAS, Yakutsk 677010, Russia
Juncen Lin
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Yunhu Shang
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Shuai Huang
Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management (Ministry of Education), School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Xiaochen Wu
Daqing (Jagdaqi) Oil Gas Transportation Branch, PipeChina North Pipeline Company, Jagdaqi 165000, China
Luyao Bai
PipeChina Institute of Science and Technology, Langfang 065000, China
Yan Zhang
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Liyun Tang
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Hailiang Jia
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Miao Wang
Heilongjiang Provincial Hydraulic Research Institute, Harbin 150050, China
Xu Wang
Heilongjiang Transportation Information and Science Research Center, Harbin 150080, China
The China–Russia crude oil pipeline (CRCOP) operates at a temperature that continuously thaws the surrounding permafrost, leading to secondary periglacial phenomena along the route. However, the evolution and formation mechanisms of these phenomena are still largely unknown. We used multi-temporal airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), geophysical, and field observation data to quantify the scale of ponding and icing, capture their dynamic development process, and reveal their development mechanisms. The results show that the average depth of ponding within 5 m on both sides of the pipeline was about 31 cm. The volumes of three icings (A–C) above the pipeline were 133 m3, 440 m3, and 186 m3, respectively. Icing development can be divided into six stages: pipe trench settlement, water accumulation in the pipe trench, ponding pressure caused by water surface freezing, the formation of ice cracks, water overflow, and icing. This study revealed the advantages of airborne LiDAR in monitoring the evolution of periglacial phenomena and provided a new insight on the development mechanisms of the phenomena by combining LiDAR with geophysics and field observation. The results of our study are of great significance for developing disaster countermeasures and ensuring the safe operation of buried pipelines.
