Russia Red Diesel Spill

[FrostKing70]

This is a bid spill, about 175,000 barrels:

Russia declares state of emergency over Arctic Circle oil spill

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2020/06/05/oil-spill-red-river-permafrost-tied-russian-arctic-circle-emergency-diesel/3143679001/

"Melting permafrost caused a fuel tank holding 21,000 tons of diesel oil to collapse in Russia's Arctic Circle, leading to a 135-square mile oil spill."

[FrostKing70]

Scary to see the other tanks in the area, I wonder how long until those collapse, as well:

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/world/2020/06/04/russia-oil-spill-putin-declares-state-emergency/654630000/

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/world/2020/06/05/oil-spill-russia-threatens-delicate-arctic-ocean/654650000/

[Phoenix]

Scary to see the other tanks in the area, I wonder how long until those collapse, as well:

Maybe they should sell whatever is in those tanks quickly and decommission them. If they're at risk of collapse, empty 'em out.

One wonders if the current oil glut has anything to do with this and whether those tanks are more full than usual and putting extra weight stress on the foundation.

[interstitial]

before global warming building on permafrost was like building on stone. Whole towns and cities in the arctic are at risk and need to be moved before collapse. This is true in all the arctic countries. One hospital actually cools the ground to make sure their building doesn't collapse. Everything built on permafrost needs to be moved because the soil will shift when it melts. These events will become more common in the next decade or so as most of permafrost will at least partially melt. Think about it what would you do if your whole town or city had to move or risk almost certain collapse in the next decade? Its easy to say you would move but can you afford to? Especially if your current property is condemned? 

[Phoenix]

Think about it what would you do if your whole town or city had to move or risk almost certain collapse in the next decade?

Climate refugees. It's a global phenomena. I grew up in Miami and my entire family remains in South Florida. The real estate crash there is coming by 2030.

[FrostKing70]

This article talks about some of the potential impacts, here is one that jumped out at me:

"In September 1969, a barge ran aground in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, spilling diesel and causing massive deaths of marine life and marsh grass in bays that are similar to those found along the Arctic coastline.

Residents still refer to the "Silent Autumn" that followed for the lack of bird life in the area that season. It took up to five years for marsh grasses to grow back, and 50 years later, grasses, crabs, and mussels in the area still show detrimental impacts from the spill."

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/09/opinions/dangerous-leak-of-diesel-fuel-arctic-reddy/index.html

[FrostKing70]

Alarming to have the foundation / permafrost damage this early in the season.  Really makes me wonder how many more of these we will see later this summer and in future years as the warming trend continues....

[blumenkraft]

The Oil Spill From Russian Nickel Mine Is Moving Toward The Arctic Ocean


Link >> https://www.npr.org/2020/06/16/878852931/the-oil-spill-from-russian-nickel-mine-is-moving-towards-the-arctic-ocean?t=1592409135327

(3 minutes listen)

[FrostKing70]

It has now reached 100 degrees F in Siberia.  That can't be helping with the thawing permafrost!

https://weather.com/news/climate/news/2020-06-21-siberia-russia-100-degrees-heat-record-arctic#

[morganism]

Toxic fuel from 21,000 ton leak reaches pristine lake, bypassing floating booms, as rivers of diesel pollution cover-up is exposed. Next stop, Kara Sea.

(This is classified as a permafrost caused infrastructure fail, but they say it is just a upkeep screwup.)

http://www.siberiantimes.com/ecology/casestudy/features/next-stop-kara-sea-in-the-arctic-ocean/

"The main problem is that the leak was not of oil itself, but of the product of its processing - diesel.

‘An oil slick is held on the surface of the water, and diesel sinks to the bottom and mixes with water and silt. In addition, the chemical components of diesel fuel are much more toxic.

‘Booms will not be able to completely stop the diesel, part of the oil product will still go beyond and then settle to the bottom. For complete cleaning, it is necessary to completely remove the soil from the bottom of water bodies. So far it is about at least collecting all the spots from the surface.

‘Now there are problems with this, as there are not enough tanks to drain pumped oil products.

‘And it’s problematic to quickly deliver them to the tundra.

‘It is clear that with this attitude to ecology, the development of the Arctic will lead to the fact that we simply will not preserve the nature of the region.’