NASA scientists in Greenland discovered an abandoned Cold War U.S. military base called Camp Century hidden beneath the ice. The base was originally built in 1959 to test construction techniques and scientific research, as well as to secretly test the deployment of nuclear missiles during the Cold War. The base was powered by a nuclear reactor and housed 85-200 soldiers before being abandoned in 1967.
Climate change is now causing concern that the approximately 100 feet of ice covering the base could melt, releasing the waste left behind, including 53,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 63,000 gallons of wastewater, and low-level radioactive coolant. This waste could potentially enter the atmosphere as the ice melts, posing environmental risks.
NASA scientists used advanced radar technology to uncover individual structures in the hidden city that were not visible in previous radar flights. The data collected offers unprecedented insight into the abandoned base.
It is estimated that as early as 2090, the site could transition from net snowfall to net melt, raising fears that the waste buried under the ice could be released into the environment. The concern is that once the site reaches this point of no return, the waste will continue to melt out irreversibly.
The discovery of Camp Century underlines the long-term consequences of human impact on the environment, as well as the potential risks associated with abandoned military sites in remote and environmentally sensitive areas.
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