Cumulative impacts of a gravel road and climate change in an ice-wedge-polygon landscape, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Environmental impact assessments for new Arctic infrastructure do not adequately consider the likely long-term cumulative effects of climate change and to landforms vegetation in areas with ice-rich permafrost, due part lack environmental studies that monitor changes after is built. This case study examines (1949–2020) climate- road-related a network ice-wedge polygons, Prudhoe Bay Oilfield, Alaska. We studied four trajectories along heavily traveled road relatively remote site. During 20 years prior oilfield development, landscapes changed very little. 50 climate-related included increased numbers thermokarst ponds, ice-wedge-polygon morphology, snow distribution, thaw depths, dominant types, shrub abundance. Road dust strongly affected plant-community structure composition, particularly small forbs, mosses, lichens. Flooding permafrost degradation, polygon center-trough elevation contrasts, productivity. It was possible isolate impacts from impacts, but combined datasets provide unique insights into rate extent ecological disturbances associated infrastructure-affected under decades warming. conclude recommendations future permafrost.