Drones (Jul 2024)

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8080360
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 8
p. 360

Abstract

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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.

Keywords