The NASA has revealed images of an abandoned US military base, known as Camp Centurywhich is found buried under 30 meters of ice in Greenland. This discovery has been possible thanks to an innovative radar that has allowed scientists to obtain a new view of this “city under the ice.”
Camp Century was built in 1959 during the Cold War as part of a secret US military project. The base was intended to be a facility scientific research, but it also had a strategic military purpose. The project, known as “Project Iceworm”, aimed to assess the feasibility of launching nuclear missiles from the Arctic in the event of a conflict with the Soviet Union. However, due to extreme conditions and logistical challenges, the project was abandoned in 1967.
The base, which once housed more than 200 soldiers and scientists, It included laboratories, bedrooms, a chapel, a barbershop and even a small underground farm.. All of this was connected by a network of tunnels dug into the ice. Over time, the base was abandoned and buried under layers of snow and ice, becoming a frozen time capsule.
Ice trenching at Camp Century.
The recent discovery by NASA has been possible thanks to a advanced ice penetrating radarwhich has allowed scientists to map the structure of the base in unprecedented detail. The images reveal not only the layout of the tunnels and rooms, but also the remnants of equipment and supplies left behind when the base was abandoned.
This discovery has generated great interest in the scientific community, as it offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of climate change on the Greenland ice. As global temperatures rise, the ice covering Camp Century is melting at an accelerated rate, which could release hazardous materials stored at the base, such as nuclear waste and toxic chemicals.
Scientists are using radar images to plan future expeditions to the basewith the aim of recovering and analyzing these materials before they are released into the environment.
The ice-penetrating radar used by NASA is a powerful tool that has revolutionized the way scientists study ice sheets. This radar emits radio waves that penetrate the ice and bounce off underground structures, creating detailed images of what lies beneath. This technology has previously been used to study glaciers and ice sheets in other parts of the world, but the discovery of Camp Century It is one of the most significant finds to date.
NASA’s team of scientists is working closely with researchers in Greenland and other countries to carry out a comprehensive study of the base. One of the main challenges they face is the logistics of working in such a remote and hostile environment. Temperatures in Greenland can drop to extremely low levels, and weather conditions can change rapidly, making access to the base difficult. Furthermore, the ice that covers Camp Century It is dynamic and constantly moving, further complicating excavation and recovery efforts.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.es
