Latest news with #Manos
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Cost estimates rising for permafrost-related damage to Alaska roads and buildings
An abandoned house, seen on Aug. 2, 2022, teeters on the edge of a cliff that has eroded away because of permafrost thaw. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Permafrost thaw is expected to impose costs of $37 billion to $51 billion to Alaska roads and buildings through the middle of the century, according to a newly published study. The calculated toll, detailed in a study published in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment, is higher than previous estimates of thaw costs to Alaska permafrost. That is because of a more complete inventory of roads, buildings and structures like storage tanks, made possible by improved satellite imagery and other technology, said lead author Elias Manos of the University of Connecticut. Past studies have estimated several billion dollars in estimated costs. A 2023 study of thaw damages to infrastructure across the Arctic, for example, estimated costs to Alaska transportation facilities at between $14 billion and $24.5 billion by midcentury, with another $3 billion in costs from damages expected to buildings. As information about existing infrastructure increases, estimates of costs are likely to do so as well, said Manos, who is pursuing the research as he works toward a doctoral degree. Better permafrost modeling could also help refine cost estimates, he said. An important aspect of the study is that thaw damages analyzed are already ongoing, Manos said. This number is what has already occurred or what is occurring in the moment, as opposed to what's happening or going to happen the future,' he said. The study compares expected costs under two climate scenarios, one with lower carbon emissions that eventually level off, creating less dramatic global warming, and the other with carbon emissions continuing at about their current rate, resulting in higher levels of warming. It also compares effects in different parts of the state. Measured by dollars, the Fairbanks North Star Borough stands to bear the highest costs, at over $7.4 billion for buildings and over $6 billion for roads through the 2060s, under the higher warming scenario. That reflects the concentration of infrastructure in that relatively high-population area, Manos said. Measured per capita in the higher-warming scenario, the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area has the highest anticipated costs of permafrost-thaw damages to buildings and houses, the study found. Even a more southern part of the state, where permafrost exists only in sporadic pockets, is vulnerable to damages, the study found. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough expected to have approximately $1 billion in permafrost-related costs through the 2060s, almost entirely from damage to roads, according to the study. While enhanced information about infrastructure has enabled a more refined estimate for thaw-related costs, the infrastructure tally in the new study is incomplete. It does not include the North Slope oil fields, oil pipelines, the Red Dog Mine or other large industrial sites. Manos said he has analyzed those and plans to include them in future studies. This study is more focused on communities 'where people actually live,' he said. Those communities are also where much of the cost of permafrost thaw is borne, sometimes without much assistance, said study co-author Anna Liljedahl of the Massachusetts-based Woodwell Climate Research Center. Homeowners can buy flood insurance, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides aid to cover damage caused by various weather and climate events, Liljedahl noted. 'But when it comes to permafrost, it's not part of the language at the federal level,' she said. The federal Stafford Act, under which FEMA provides disaster aid, addresses acute events like storms, not ongoing and more gradual events like permafrost thaw. Thaw can be expensive to homeowners, nonetheless, she said. She cited cases in Fairbanks where people bought property without understanding the permafrost below. 'Suddenly, there are sinkholes appearing, and their foundation is sinking in,' she said. The analysis of thaw-related costs to infrastructure is continuing. The Alaska-focused study is part of a more comprehensive circumpolar mapping project by Manos that also includes Canada and Russia. Up to now, lack of data about infrastructure has posed a challenge, especially in Russia, he said. That is why satellite imagery is valuable. 'That's kind of the beauty of satellite-based Earth observation, or as people call it, remote sensing,' he said. There is now commercial satellite imagery spanning the Arctic, he added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
MTV Lebanon
12-02-2025
- MTV Lebanon
Santorini fears for summer tourist season as earthquakes hit island
February marks the unofficial start of the tourist season in the Greek island of Santorini - when the first cruise ships are due to arrive and the Easter holidays approach. But with thousands of earthquakes shaking the island since January and experts unable to say when they will end, one cruise has already turned away and there are fears that the island's most important industry could be facing a difficult year. "In the past two days, we have seen a drop in bookings, but we hope this will be short-lived," says Antonis Pagonis, president of Greece's Association of Hoteliers. But even if tourists don't choose to go elsewhere this year, hotels still face the prospect of not having enough staff to serve their guests come summer. Santorini - one of Greece's most visited islands - relies heavily on seasonal workers from other parts of Greece and abroad, who help the permanent population of just over 15,000 to serve tens of thousands of tourists on the island each day in peak season. But the uncertainty over how the tremors will affect tourist numbers has forced some workers to reconsider their options this summer. "It's not that I'm afraid of earthquakes - Santorini always shakes," says Manos, who has spent the past five summers working as a bartender on the island. His job is demanding, with crowds swelling during the peak tourist season, but the financial rewards have always made it worthwhile. This year he fears that won't be the case. "I'm worried there won't be enough tourists. If the season is weak, I might not make as much money, or they might not need me for the whole summer. I can't take that risk." Instead, Manos says he has taken a job in Corfu and won't be returning to Santorini this year. And it isn't only in summer that the island requires a temporary workforce - now is the time that construction workers are needed to refurbish hotels ahead of the summer. That work has ground to a halt because of safety concerns over the quakes, and hotel owners - concerned that workers will go elsewhere - are pushing for the government to continue paying most of their salary until work can start again. "We have submitted a series of proposals to the government to support both the existing workforce on the island and those looking to work during the season," says Mr Pagonis. He adds that the government has responded positively, but "it remains to be seen whether these measures will be implemented". While Greek authorities have been quick to respond to the risks posed by the tremors - placing rescue teams on Santorini and introducing a state of emergency to expedite aid - some in the tourism industry argue that this needs to be followed up with investment in the island's infrastructure. "The challenges won't disappear once the earthquakes stop," says Margarita Karamolegkou, who owns four hotels in Santorini. "During the season, the island sees 70,000 workers and 160,000 visitors daily. While the state has acted quickly in response to the earthquake, we have long been asking for improvements such as a new port." There are also calls for stricter regulations on private rental properties, which may not meet the same safety standards as the island's hotels. Santorini accounts for around 2.5% of Greece's gross domestic product (GDP), generating an estimated €5.9bn (£4.9bn) annually. While there have been no cancellations so far, hoteliers are reporting a decline in bookings and industry professionals warn that if the situation persists for another month, the impact on businesses could be severe. During a visit to the island on Friday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the importance of protecting Santorini's reputation, describing it as "an iconic tourist destination" and saying: "It is our duty to protect it, preserve its reputation, and ensure that 2025 is another excellent year for tourism." Ms Karamolegkou, whose four hotels employ 120 staff, acknowledges the challenges and admits that if the tremors continue much longer, she may have to delay opening her hotels and businesses. But she remains optimistic about the future of the island's most important industry. "We have been in this business for decades, operating at the highest level. I am confident that even with fewer staff, our services will remain exceptional."
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Santorini fears for summer tourist season as earthquakes hit island
February marks the unofficial start of the tourist season in the Greek island of Santorini - when the first cruise ships are due to arrive and the Easter holidays approach. But with thousands of earthquakes shaking the island since January and experts unable to say when they will end, one cruise has already turned away and there are fears that the island's most important industry could be facing a difficult year. "In the past two days, we have seen a drop in bookings, but we hope this will be short-lived," says Antonis Pagonis, president of Greece's Association of Hoteliers. But even if tourists don't choose to go elsewhere this year, hotels still face the prospect of not having enough staff to serve their guests come summer. How long could the Santorini 'seismic crisis' last? Tourists leave after earthquakes rock Santorini, but resilient locals remain Santorini rocked by more earthquakes as uncertainty grows Santorini - one of Greece's most visited islands - relies heavily on seasonal workers from other parts of Greece and abroad, who help the permanent population of just over 15,000 to serve tens of thousands of tourists on the island each day in peak season. But the uncertainty over how the tremors will affect tourist numbers has forced some workers to reconsider their options this summer. "It's not that I'm afraid of earthquakes - Santorini always shakes," says Manos, who has spent the past five summers working as a bartender on the island. His job is demanding, with crowds swelling during the peak tourist season, but the financial rewards have always made it worthwhile. This year he fears that won't be the case. "I'm worried there won't be enough tourists. If the season is weak, I might not make as much money, or they might not need me for the whole summer. I can't take that risk." Instead, Manos says he has taken a job in Corfu and won't be returning to Santorini this year. And it isn't only in summer that the island requires a temporary workforce - now is the time that construction workers are needed to refurbish hotels ahead of the summer. That work has ground to a halt because of safety concerns over the quakes, and hotel owners - concerned that workers will go elsewhere - are pushing for the government to continue paying most of their salary until work can start again. "We have submitted a series of proposals to the government to support both the existing workforce on the island and those looking to work during the season," says Mr Pagonis. He adds that the government has responded positively, but "it remains to be seen whether these measures will be implemented". While Greek authorities have been quick to respond to the risks posed by the tremors - placing rescue teams on Santorini and introducing a state of emergency to expedite aid - some in the tourism industry argue that this needs to be followed up with investment in the island's infrastructure. "The challenges won't disappear once the earthquakes stop," says Margarita Karamolegkou, who owns four hotels in Santorini. "During the season, the island sees 70,000 workers and 160,000 visitors daily. While the state has acted quickly in response to the earthquake, we have long been asking for improvements such as a new port." There are also calls for stricter regulations on private rental properties, which may not meet the same safety standards as the island's hotels. Santorini accounts for around 2.5% of Greece's gross domestic product (GDP), generating an estimated €5.9bn (£4.9bn) annually. While there have been no cancellations so far, hoteliers are reporting a decline in bookings and industry professionals warn that if the situation persists for another month, the impact on businesses could be severe. During a visit to the island on Friday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the importance of protecting Santorini's reputation, describing it as "an iconic tourist destination" and saying: "It is our duty to protect it, preserve its reputation, and ensure that 2025 is another excellent year for tourism." Ms Karamolegkou, whose four hotels employ 120 staff, acknowledges the challenges and admits that if the tremors continue much longer, she may have to delay opening her hotels and businesses. But she remains optimistic about the future of the island's most important industry. "We have been in this business for decades, operating at the highest level. I am confident that even with fewer staff, our services will remain exceptional." State of emergency declared for Santorini after quakes
