Engineering geological and geophysical investigations for road construction in the municipality of Sisimiut, West Greenland

In connection with a road construction project between the towns of Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq in Central West Greenland, the Arctic Technology Centre has been involved in prospecting and site investigations. This paper presents a selection of results concerning the climatic conditions and permafrost distribution, as well as engineering geological and geotechnical investigations conducted.

We present data from two soil temperature stations, and show that the recent climatic warming has resulted in changes in the state of the permafrost. Furthermore, we present a geological type section based on engineering geological investigations in the Sisimiut area. Geophysical investigations show that presence of permafrost is widespread, and our results indicate that the vertical thickness of the permafrost may reach 20 m.

Further climate warming in the near future will impose high demands on design and construction work in order to counter the effects of permafrost degradation and increased active layer thickness.