In 2017, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic Circle of Norway flooded due to melting permafrost. This has been attributed to higher than average temperatures in the winter during one of the hottest years on record. Floodwater gushed into the entrance tunnel but no seeds were damaged. Following the flooding the vault has now been retrofitted to be protected against floodwater.
Global seed vault floods after permafrost melts
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- Topic: BiodiversityClimate change
- Other Tags: BiodiversityClimate ChangeExtreme Weather