MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Russia forced to evacuate Arctic base because of melting ice field
North Pole 40 and its 16 staff will be moved in three days A Russian drifting Arctic research station is to be evacuated because the ice field around it is melting, the environment ministry in Moscow reports. The evacuation order plan to be drawn up within three days for North Pole 40 and its staff of 16 is already operational.
The environment ministry is sending a nuclear-powered icebreaker to help move the station, located near Canada's economic zone.
According to UN experts, Arctic ice melted at record speed in 2012, one of the warmest years on record.
The Russian ministry said the “abnormal development of natural processes” had endangered the lives of staff and the work of the station.
North Pole 40 went into operation on October first, replacing another station which had existed for just less than two years.
The base monitors the ocean environment and pollution, as well as acting as a weather station and conducting experiments. It will be relocated to Bolshevik Island in the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago.
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Read all commentsIce in the Arctic is always on the move, it has not melted just in this one spot, just moved around as it always does. As the article says “A Russian drifting Arctic research station”, drifting is the operative word.
May 24th, 2013 - 09:45 am 0Time and tide wait for no man
May 25th, 2013 - 08:44 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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