Beside the road you see tilted wooden stumps. On these stakes, the houses of old Longyear City were standing. In 1943, when the Germans attacked Longyearbyen during WW2, they burned down the houses to the ground. The stakes were standing vertical when the houses were built at the beginning of the 20th Century, and they were probably barely visible after 1943. The fact that we can see tilted poles today, is the result of several permafrost and slope processes: The tilt is a sign of slow downslope-movement of the active layer (the layer above the permafrost which thaws every summer). This process is called frost creep. The stakes are pushed up due to frost heave.
The Longyearbyen Field Guide
We are a group of scientists and Svalbardians who want to share our knowledge about the vicinity of Longyearbyen with you. This app is non-commercial and meant for locals, guides, tourists and everyone interested in science.
It is initially based on the book “The Geology of Longyearbyen” and supported by the Svalbard environmental protection fund, The University Centre in Svalbard, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani and HDpublish.
We appreciate all of the voluntary contributions and support from all authors and initiators for making this app possible.
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