Svalbard Might Be Evacuated, page 1


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reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 06:40 AM by Flavian
reply to post by Hellmutt


Makes sense evacuating then......in the Arctic Circle, in winter, no power = not a happy place!

I would think though that it won't affect the Seed Bank one way or the other, as i would be hugely surprised if something like that didn't have its own power source. And if it doesn't, you can bet it will have soon following this incident!


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 06:59 AM by Hellmutt
From the wiki article:

Locally mined coal provides power for refrigeration units that further cool the seeds to the internationally recommended standard −18 °C (0 °F). Even if the equipment fails, at least several weeks will elapse before the temperature rises to the −3 °C (27 °F) of the surrounding sandstone bedrock

and
The permafrost surrounding the facility will help maintain the low temperature of the seeds if the electricity supply should fail.

I assume they'll manage to get some kind of backup power in time, if the coal plant shuts down. The refrigeration units probably won't need as much power as the population of 2,000.


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 07:11 AM by PollyPeptide
Originally posted by Hellmutt
From the wiki article:

Locally mined coal provides power for refrigeration units that further cool the seeds to the internationally recommended standard −18 °C (0 °F). Even if the equipment fails, at least several weeks will elapse before the temperature rises to the −3 °C (27 °F) of the surrounding sandstone bedrock

and
The permafrost surrounding the facility will help maintain the low temperature of the seeds if the electricity supply should fail.

I assume they'll manage to get some kind of backup power in time, if the coal plant shuts down. The refrigeration units probably won't need as much power as the population of 2,000.


The plan still seems flawed to me. If disaster struck and 90 some-odd percent of the population is wiped out, who is going to take the time out of their survival to go to the seed vault and build a generator? Know what I'm saying? Even if the seeds can last a few weeks in the permafrost, it won't be long enough. It seems to me that this plan was put into motion just to make us think something was being done, but in all reality, it's FAIL from the get-go. Not to mention, isn't the seed vault one of the most secure facilities on the planet? How are we supposed to get the seeds out (if they survive) if we need them? Sorry for straying from the main topic, but this is what its about, right? This fire is exposing a gigantic flaw in the seed vaults design....


Robb


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 07:16 AM by Flavian
reply to post by PollyPeptide


I do not think the seed bank is meant for the likes of us. Humanity is a very vague term, in this instance meaning "scientists, politicians, the rich" rather than, well, all of us.

I think it is fairly safe to say that if something catastrophic was going to happen, someone important would already be on their way to the seed bank.........


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 07:17 AM by LittleBlackEagle
reply to post by PollyPeptide


seeds can last far more then a few weeks at 27 F and in fact there were seeds grown from Egyptian burials that were 3500 years old. all depends on the variety of seed really though.


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 07:36 AM by steppenwolf86
reply to post by LittleBlackEagle


Okay,so when the world ends, we have to travel to the arctic to get these seeds, then travel back south to where it is warm enough to plant and grow.them? Whoever said this was.not well thought out is right!


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 07:53 AM by LittleBlackEagle
Originally posted by steppenwolf86
reply to post by LittleBlackEagle


Okay,so when the world ends, we have to travel to the arctic to get these seeds, then travel back south to where it is warm enough to plant and grow.them? Whoever said this was.not well thought out is right!



yeah it's not something that seems to be for "everyone" if you know what i mean, although it is designed to prevent plant species from going extinct, so it serves a good purpose.


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 07:54 AM by Flavian
reply to post by steppenwolf86


If the world ends, how would you be travelling back south?

Svalbard was chosen precisely because of its location - it is hard to get to and therefore hard to compromise and contaminate, etc.

If we get to the stage where the ships are being boarded and last person off the planet is about to turn off the lights, it is a one stop journey to get every seed we will need, as opposed to travelling all over to get stuff from everywhere.


reply posted on 7-12-2012 @ 08:07 AM by steppenwolf86
Originally posted by Flavian
reply to post by steppenwolf86


If the world ends, how would you be travelling back south?

Svalbard was chosen precisely because of its location - it is hard to get to and therefore hard to compromise and contaminate, etc.

If we get to the stage where the ships are being boarded and last person off the planet is about to turn off the lights, it is a one stop journey to get every seed we will need, as opposed to travelling all over to get stuff from everywhere.


That was pretty much my point. Are flying reindeer an option?
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