Scientists proposed detonating more than 1,600 nuclear bombs

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Researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology have proposed detonating 1,620 thermonuclear bombs to accelerate the natural process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Scientists warn that if the average temperature on Earth continues to rise, by the end of the century the global economy could suffer $200 trillion in damage and the living conditions of hundreds of millions of people could deteriorate dramatically. To prevent this from happening, they propose an unconventional solution - detonating more than 1,600 thermonuclear charges, each weighing 50 megatons, underwater.

Researchers say that thermonuclear explosions can accelerate the weathering of silicate rocks such as basalt. This process traps carbon dioxide and removes it from the atmosphere. This method is already being used on a small scale: in Brazil, companies including Google are funding projects to crush basalt and spread it on agricultural land. However, scientists believe that such measures are not enough for the global impact.

According to the proposed option, explosives would be placed 4 kilometers deep on the seabed, with a layer of water 8 kilometers above. The pressure of 800 atmospheres should absorb the shock wave, and the explosive power of about 81 gigatons should ensure rapid disintegration of the rocks. According to scientists, in this case, radiation would be minimal and would have almost no impact on the ocean ecosystem.

According to calculations, the impact of the explosion would be equivalent to the loss of 30 years of CO₂ emissions. Otherwise, scientists predict accelerated ocean acidification, the death of coral reefs, and other environmental disasters.

However, the question of how safe it is to use thermonuclear explosions on such a large scale remains open. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”