In Greenland, NASA scientists discovered an abandoned Cold War military base known as Camp Century while surveying the ice sheet. The base, built in 1959, was used for testing construction techniques and launching nuclear missiles from the Arctic during the Cold War. It housed 85-200 soldiers and was powered by a nuclear reactor. The base was abandoned in 1967 after the missile launch program was rejected by the military, leaving behind infrastructure and waste, including nuclear waste.
Scientists have raised concerns that climate change could cause the approximately 100 feet of ice covering the base to melt, releasing the waste into the environment. Climate simulations suggest that by 2090, the site could transition from net snowfall to net melt, leading to the release of waste. The waste buried under the ice includes 53,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 63,000 gallons of wastewater, and low-level radioactive coolant from the nuclear generator.
This discovery highlights the long-term consequences of past military activities in the Arctic and the potential environmental risks associated with climate change. It also underscores the need for continued monitoring and remediation efforts to prevent the release of hazardous materials into the environment.
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