Abstract
The warming climate is changing the surface dynamics of the Greenland Ice Sheet, including the balance between snowfall and melt. Increasing surface melt impacts the structure of the relatively porous near-surface layer known as firn. Camp Century, a base abandoned in 1967, now comprises a subsurface debris field within the firn in Northwest Greenland. We collected 80 km of 100 or 250 MHz radar data in nested grids over this subsurface debris field. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of this ice-penetrating radar survey. The vast majority (95%) of subsurface reflectors are located at depths of greater than 32 m. The tunnel network, as well as an overlying layer associated with historical surface activities, is readily visible in the radar data. This subsurface debris field is approximately circular with a radius of less than 1 km. Local downwarping of clear internal layers – likely annual accumulation layers - identifies now-collapsed liquid sumps. Analysis of radar signal polarity suggests that liquid hydrocarbons are likely present in one of these sumps. The radar data and a geo-referenced site map of Camp Century are freely accessible at www.campcenturyclimate.dk.
Highlights
Camp Century was constructed in 1959 by the US Army Corps of Engineers as a subsurface base within the Greenland Ice Sheet
While the vast majority (95%) of all identified infrastructure reflectors are located at depths greater than 32 m, there are a small number above the historical active surface
The survey comprised of 80 km of 100 or 250 MHz radar data collected in nested grids over this subsurface debris field during July and August 2017
Summary
Camp Century was constructed in 1959 by the US Army Corps of Engineers as a subsurface base within the Greenland Ice Sheet. It housed up to 200 soldiers and was occupied year-round until 1964. It continued seasonal operations for an additional three summers and was permanently abandoned in 1967. Camp Century was excavated within the relatively soft near-surface firn as a cut-and-cover trench network at an initial depth of 8 m (Clark, 1965). Persistent snowfall has buried the base entirely, leaving nothing visible at the ice-sheet surface. For insights into the political and military history of Camp Century, we refer readers to recent studies (Nielsen et al, 2014; Nielsen and Nielsen, 2016)
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