Arctic research station evacuated as ice floe melts

Russian scientists had to make an emergency evacuation as the Arctic ice floe where they were stationed began to melt, according to The Australian. The affected station was North Pole 40, a Russian research base that monitored pollution and conducted meteorological research.

Many of those manning the station believe that the melting is a result of climate change, pointing to a United Nations weather agency report that says 2012 was the ninth hottest year on record for the arctic.

Russian researchers have built 39 other stations in the arctic. North Pole 40 was the most recent to be constructed.

Image: Arctic ice flow (Credit: NOAA Climate Program Office)