In 1962, amidst the heightened tensions of the Cold War, a young physician named Dr. Robert Weiss found himself drafted into the United States military. This unexpected turn of events led him to leave his esteemed medical residency at New York’s Bellevue Hospital. The destination of his service? A secluded research station beneath Greenland’s vast ice sheet, specifically at Camp Century, which he would come to know intimately during two tours of duty in 1962 and 1963.
Dr. Weiss’s orders mandated his role as camp doctor at a facility that sat approximately 26.2 feet beneath the surface of the ice. Located 800 miles from the North Pole, Weiss described his assignment as both stringent and enlightening. Camp Century was not just a research station; it served as part of a covert U.S. military operation aimed at developing hidden missile launch sites strategically positioned closer to Russia. It wasn’t until the mid-1990s, with the declassification of military documents, that Weiss, now the Donald Guthrie Professor of Urology at Yale University, learned of the Pentagon’s grand ambitions.
Camp Century’s significance, though fleeting due to its abandonment by the military in the late 1960s, left an impact that continues to resonate within the scientific community. The facility was a pioneering location for research in geophysics and paleoclimatology, despite having operated for less than a decade. Its influence remains vital, especially as winter snowfall presently surpasses summer melt at the site, which is now buried more than 98.4 feet under the ice. Yet, climate change poses a potential threat, as studies indicate that the melting of the ice could expose hazardous remnants of the camp, an unforeseen ecological dilemma.
While Dr. Weiss’s firsthand accounts of life at Camp Century are rare, he felt compelled to share his experiences after coming across recent images from NASA’s aerial surveys of Greenland. These remarkable images showcased structures submerged in ice, reflecting a life known to only a select few, including Weiss himself. Building what was dubbed a “city under the ice” was a remarkable engineering feat, with the camp consisting of a network of tunnels filled with prefabricated buildings that housed sleeping quarters, laboratories, and even a gym.
Living conditions at Camp Century, contrary to Weiss’s initial apprehensions, were surprisingly comfortable. The camp’s inhabitants — primarily men aged between 20 and 45 — rested in warm, dry huts. As a physician, Weiss’s medical emergencies were infrequent, allowing him time to indulge in chess, bridge, and the occasional ten-cent martini. The logistical operations of the camp, such as ice-water production and sewage management, were innovative, employing the use of geothermal steam and a system to pump waste deep into the ice.
However, the narrative of Camp Century was not merely one of scientific advance and comfort; it also masked broader military intentions. The camp was, in essence, a testing ground for Project Iceworm, a secretive initiative aimed at establishing an underground network of missile launch sites. Although these ambitions never materialized — with no missiles ever reaching the camp — the legacy of Camp Century persists through its scientific contributions, notably in the realm of climate research.
Over seven years, groundbreaking work at Camp Century led to the extraction of the first deep ice core, providing a detailed record of climate conditions over the preceding 100,000 years. This revelation would change how scientists understood Earth’s climatic history and the implications of contemporary climate shifts. The continuing studies on data retrieved from Camp Century’s ice core have reinforced the critical need for understanding past climatic patterns in light of modern ecological challenges.
As climate change accelerates, concerns grow about the potential exposure of waste and debris left at Camp Century. The site currently contains hazardous materials, including radioactive waste, as the ice sheet gradually melts. Scientific inquiries initiated by researchers aim to assess whether these remnants will remain encased in ice indefinitely or pose future environmental risks.
Dr. Weiss, now retired from direct patient care but still active in research, likens his time at Camp Century as a pivotal moment that shaped his career trajectory towards urology. Meanwhile, researchers continue to delve into the extensive scientific legacy of Camp Century as climate science evolves in response to global warming, revealing the enduring influence of this unique and secretive outpost in Arctic history.
