Assessment of the Vulnerabilities Affecting Resiliency of the Arctic Region Due to Thawing Permafrost (Phase I)

Status: Completed - Phase II

Funding Agency: Department of War (DOW)

Abstract:

Arctic and sub-Arctic soils are vulnerable to carbon accumulation and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination due to cold temperatures, slow biodegradation rates, limited nutrient availability, and the logistical challenges of remediation in remote environments. This study assessed carbon sources, environmental conditions, and analytical methods relevant to bioremediation of Arctic soils. A carbon source inventory was developed using the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation spill site database to evaluate contaminant types and concentration ranges across approximately 250 sites. The inventory showed that most documented spill sites in Alaska were associated with petroleum hydrocarbons; therefore, the laboratory characterization and method development activities focused on crude oil hydrocarbon analysis and bioremediation. Multiple potential field sites were identified based on the literature review and site accessibility. The Farmer’s Loop site in Fairbanks, Alaska, was selected for preliminary soil characterization because of site access and permitting feasibility associated with non-DoD sites. Soil collected from Farmer’s Loop was analyzed to evaluate baseline physical, chemical, hydrocarbon, nutrient, and microbial conditions. Laboratory results showed near-neutral soil pH, limited nutrient availability, measurable petroleum-associated hydrocarbons, and a diverse native microbial community with potential relevance to carbon cycling and hydrocarbon transformation. Method development established extraction, fractionation, gas chromatography–flame ionization detection, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, DNA isolation, microbial community characterization, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy workflows to support future biodegradation studies. Overall, this study established the technical basis for selecting carbon sources, analytical methods, and bioremediation strategies to be evaluated in future laboratory studies and field-scale implementation.

Investigators: Dr. Jagadish Torlapati, PhD.

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