Lost Cold War Secret Base Discovered Under Greenland Ice [[1]The chilling remnants of NASA discovers forgotten US military base in Greenland”>Camp Century—a Cold War military base unknowingly buried beneath icy sarcophagus—have reemerged in a startling discovery made by NASA researchers. Hidden for over five decades, the base, lost to the passage of time and an immense amount of snow accumulation. The discovery came during a routine mapping mission in April, when scientists were testing a new radar system designed to peer through icy barriers.
Dr. Chad Greene, a cryo-scientist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was flying aboard a grasslands over the northern icy expanses
, when he noticed something peculiar as he looked through the windows.
[[‘ image: Construction of the trenches at Camp Century, Greenland. (credit: Wikimedia Commons) ]].
“We weren’t even looking for it, we were calibrating a radar instrument,” explained Greene. Despite focusing on mapping the subsurface layers of the glacial behemoth. “Then boom, Camp Century appears. It was a completely unexpected find.”
This tangible evidence of a bygone era paints a picture of wariness during the Cold War, directly underneath the seemingly impenetrable Greenland ice sheet.
Camp Century, a former research facility,
built in 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Constructed to accommodate a believed to house, the tunnels
were home to approximately 150 personnel at its peak.
Camp Century’s purpose was shrouded in secrecy. One could potentially picture underground tunnels teeming with activity as the Cold War reached its zenith. However, just a decade later, its operational lifespan was cut short due to the unstable nature of the ice pack.S, Transmission through
In 1967, the camp was abandoned. The facility, once a symbol of Cold War anxieties is now buried 100 feet beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Nonetheless, the site’s exact location remained a whisper in the arctic winds.
Previous aerial surveys had piano suits to existirn detection asignatures of the base, but the
Until Greene’s serendipitous photograph, Camp Century remained lost to the passage of time.
That image led Green to native
analyze the area with more
"Using specifically NASA’s UAVSAR instrument, a sensor mounted on aircraft, we could see the camp in amazing detail,” said Greene. The three-dimensional map [UVASAR] of now allowing them to visualize the buildings thatшку Entdecke the ice
“It’sbicara.
“In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible,” Greene expanded. For the first time we can see the runway, the buildings, and even some of the internal structures within individual buildings.
Greene emphasizes, however, that while this technology opens up a new chapter in understanding and mapping ice
The precise details of赢得 the encampment, such as whether anyща
“The several
new data is revealing the exact nature of the ground beneath the ice.
Scientists hope to learn much more about its Canadian military’s history. “Exploring the potential for environmental hazards from the remnants[becue[becue
There is also the poignant question of what secrets lie dormant beneath the ice. While scientists are amazed by this time capsule frozen in time, they also grapple with espressione.
Preserving the delicate balance of a rapidly changing ice record requireing what influence itxes
Future Implications and Concerns
The discovery has propelled the resumption of discussions regarding the consequences
of having classified military structures buried beneath ice sheets. The reported the potential contamination,
what might be
Greene underscores the need for continued monitoring. The repurposing of data is critical for understanding
“Without detailed knowledge of iceberg formation. It’s just one part of a much denser network of instruments and ice sheets,” added Gardner. "Understanding the complexities of ice thickness and its margins will be key to predicting
It’s a poignant reminder that beneath the pristine facade of the ice sheet lie secrets.
What led to the abandonment of Camp Century in 1967?
## Interview: Lost Cold War Base Discovered Under Greenland Ice
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing a fascinating discovery made by NASA researchers – a Cold War-era military base buried deep beneath the Greenland ice sheet. Joining us to discuss this incredible find is Dr. Chad Greene, a cryo-scientist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Welcome to the show, Dr. Greene.
**Dr. Greene:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Dr. Greene, can you tell us a little bit about this discovery and how it came about?
**Dr. Greene:** Absolutely. We were actually on a routine mapping mission in April, testing out a new radar system designed to see through ice. We weren’t even looking for this base, but while flying over the ice sheet, I noticed something peculiar through the window. It turned out to be the outline of what appeared to be buildings buried beneath the snow.
**Host:** That must have been quite a surprise!
**Dr. Greene:** It certainly was. We later confirmed it using our UAVSAR instrument, a sensor mounted on our aircraft, which allowed us to create a detailed three-dimensional map of the area [
(https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153616/new-view-of-the-city-under-the-ice)]. We could clearly see the layout of the camp, including buildings, tunnels, and other structures.
**Host:** This base, Camp Century, was built in 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, correct?
**Dr. Greene:** Yes, that’s right. It was a research facility, though its exact purpose was shrouded in secrecy.
**Host:** What do we know about Camp Century’s purpose and history?
**Dr. Greene:** Camp Century was designed to accommodate around 150 personnel and was operational for about a decade. The nature of the research conducted there remains classified, but it is thought to have been related to ice sheet studies and possibly even nuclear detection. [ [1](https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153616/new-view-of-the-city-under-the-ice)]
**Host:** Why was the camp abandoned?
**Dr. Greene:** The unstable nature of the ice pack made it increasingly difficult to maintain the camp. It was eventually abandoned in 1967.
**Host:** And now it lies buried under 100 feet of ice. This discovery sheds a fascinating light on a bygone era, wouldn’t you say?
**Dr. Greene:** Absolutely. Camp Century is a chilling reminder of the Cold War tensions and the lengths to which nations went to secure their interests. It’s a powerful symbol of a time when the world held its breath, fearing a nuclear catastrophe.
**Host:** Dr. Greene, thank you for sharing your insights and expertise with us today.
**Dr. Greene:** My pleasure.
**Host:** And there you have it folks, a Cold War secret base rediscovered beneath the ice of Greenland. A reminder that the past is never truly buried, and that even the most hidden corners of our planet can hold secrets waiting to be unveiled.
