Frozen Foundations: Thermosyphons, Permafrost, and Arctic Fuel Storage featuring Ed Yarmak

Permafrost is stable - until it isn’t. As Arctic industries continue to expand, the ground below our fuel tanks and pipelines is literally thawing, causing dangerous settlement and structural failure.

In this episode, we’re joined by Ed Yarmak, President of Arctic Foundations Inc., a pioneer in the development and installation of thermosyphon technology - the passive heat transfer systems used across Alaska, Canada, and beyond to keep permafrost frozen and critical infrastructure standing.

We explore:

• What permafrost really is - and why thawing causes tanks to tilt, settle, or even fail
• How thermosyphons work (10,000-ft overview - no engineering degree required)
• How project managers can know before construction whether permafrost will be a problem
• What happens when older tanks - built before thermosyphons - start to settle decades later
• How modern systems are retrofitted with directional drilling and insulation technologies
• Pipeline applications (Alyeska and beyond)
• Ed’s top resources for professionals navigating Arctic conditions

If you work in fuel storage, remote operations, or Arctic infrastructure — this episode will change the way you think about what’s under your tanks.

UAF SNAP Climate tools

https://uaf-snap.org/climate-tools/https://snap.uaf.edu/tools/community-chartshttps://arcticeds.org/

Permafrost Conference Proceedings, Etc.

https://www.uspermafrost.org/publicationshttps://www.permafrost.org/publications/https://canadianpermafrostassociation.ca/glossary-of-permafrost-science-and-engineering.htm https://canadianpermafrostassociation.ca/permafrost-dictionary.htm

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