Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The Structure
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the ultimate protection for the world’s agricultural biodiversity, and is therefore built to stand the test of time. Put simply, a tunnel has been excavated into the side of a frozen mountain. The facility has only one entrance, and a robust security door and airlock separate the entrance area from the seed repository itself.
In order to maintain the temperature below -10°C, cold Arctic air is drawn into the Vault during the winter, automatically and without human intervention. The surrounding rock maintains the temperature requirements during the extremely cold season, and during relatively warmer periods refrigeration equipment are engaged. However, in the event of an equipment failure, temperatures in the Vault would not rise above approximately -3.5°C, and would, in fact, take months to warm even to that level. This would be perfectly adequate for seed conservation for many, many years. The inside of the seed storage area is lined with insulated panels (in addition to the thick concrete wall) to help maintain the cold temperatures. Electronic transmitters linked to a satellite system monitor the temperature and send this information back to the appropriate authorities at Longyearbyen and at NordGen, which provides the technical expertise for managing the Seed Vault.
The remote location, as well as the rugged structure, provides unparalleled security for the world’s agricultural heritage, and the facility is also equipped with motion detectors and CCTV. The polar bears which prowl the area provide one extra layer of security.
The Seed Vault, with its combination of natural and mechanical cooling systems and safe, remote location, is designed to provide a service that no other genebank can offer, and which will function effectively centuries into the future.