NASA scientists in Greenland discovered an abandoned Cold War military base known as Camp Century while conducting surveys of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The base, built in 1959 by the U.S., was used for testing construction techniques, conducting research, and as a top-secret site for testing the feasibility of deploying nuclear missiles from the Arctic.
The base housed 85-200 soldiers and was powered by a nuclear reactor. After the missile launch program was rejected in 1967, the base was abandoned, leaving behind infrastructure and waste, including 53,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 63,000 gallons of wastewater, and low-level radioactive coolant from the nuclear generator.
Scientists have raised concerns that as a result of climate change, the ice covering the base could melt, releasing the buried waste into the environment. Climate simulations suggest that as early as 2090, the site could transition from net snowfall to net melt, causing the waste to melt out and become irreversible.
Researchers estimate that there are 136 acres of waste buried under the ice from Camp Century. This discovery highlights the potential environmental impact of past military activity in remote regions and the importance of addressing and mitigating the risks associated with these abandoned sites.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com
