Impact of heat and contaminants transfer from landfills to permafrost subgrade in arctic climate: A review: Fid-Bau Portal

Impact of heat and contaminants transfer from landfills to permafrost subgrade in arctic climate: A review

Akhtar, Sharmin / Hollaender, Hartmut / Yuan, Qiuyan

Abstract Permafrost, a common phenomenon found in most Arctic regions, is undergoing vulnerability due to climatic changes and improper waste management. Landfilling is the traditional household, industrial, and commercial solid waste disposal method. Leachate, heat, and gas are the primary byproducts of waste degradation in landfills and can threaten the environment and human health and induce climate change by polluting the soil, groundwater, and air. This review aims to summarize the available literature and identify knowledge gaps in understanding heat transfer, permafrost melt, and leachate seepage mechanisms in the landfill environment. Research showed that engineered landfills are affected by their generated heat which is one of the primary byproducts of landfills. Excessive heat in the landfill can create cracks in the liners and covers, thereby decreasing the lifecycle of the landfill barriers and polluting soil and groundwater. The contaminated groundwater flow thereby creates unsafe conditions for humans and the environment. The article also shows that building a landfill in permafrost regions is concerning because the excess heat generated may transfer to the permafrost ground layer via conduction and cause permafrost degradation. Permafrost thawing can increase the water content in the ground, leading to soil erosion, and settlement, accelerating the permafrost carbon cycle and releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere resulting in climate change. The article indicates that landfill gas production is another reason for increased levels of global warming.

Highlights • Leachate, heat, and gas are the resultants of waste biodegradation in landfills. • Heat generation in the landfills in permafrost regions may cause permafrost thawing. • Cracks in the liners are caused by heat generation and permafrost thawing. • Leachate contaminants may integrate into soil and groundwater by liners fractures. • Permafrost thawing will release greenhouse gases trapped in the boreal peatland.