In the relentless pursuit of solutions to the escalating climate crisis, a radical and controversial proposal has emerged: detonating an unprecedented nuclear bomb beneath Earth’s crust to accelerate carbon sequestration. This concept, rooted in geoengineering, raises profound questions about humanity’s capacity to manipulate natural processes and the potential consequences of such extreme interventions.​

The Proposal: An Unprecedented Nuclear Detonation

In January 2025, a paper surfaced on arXiv, authored by Andy Haverly, a 25-year-old software engineer from Washington State. Haverly suggests deploying an 81-gigaton nuclear bomb—surpassing the largest historical detonation, the 50-megaton Tsar Bomba—beneath the seabed of the Kerguelen Plateau in the Antarctic Ocean. The objective is to induce rapid rock weathering, a natural process where carbon dioxide reacts with minerals, thereby sequestering approximately 30 years’ worth of CO₂ emissions.

Geoengineering: The Double-Edged Sword

Geoengineering encompasses large-scale interventions in Earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change. Techniques like Solar Radiation Management (SRM) aim to reflect sunlight to reduce global temperatures, while Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) focuses on extracting CO₂ from the atmosphere. Haverly’s proposal aligns with CDR, leveraging enhanced rock weathering through a nuclear-induced geological event.​

Historical Precedents: Project Plowshare

The notion of utilizing nuclear explosions for constructive purposes isn’t novel. From 1957 to 1977, the United States conducted Project Plowshare, exploring peaceful applications of nuclear detonations, including large-scale excavation and resource extraction. Despite conducting 27 tests involving 35 nuclear warheads, the project faced public opposition due to radioactive fallout and environmental concerns, leading to its termination. ​

Tectonic Weapons: The Pandora’s Box

The concept of tectonic weapons—devices designed to trigger seismic events—has been a subject of speculation and concern. While no such devices are known to exist, the potential to induce earthquakes or volcanic eruptions through artificial means has been explored theoretically. The 1978 Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques reflects international apprehension regarding environmental manipulation for hostile purposes. ​

Scientific Skepticism and Ethical Dilemmas

The scientific community remains skeptical about the feasibility and safety of Haverly’s proposal. Dr. Roger Clark, a geophysics lecturer at Leeds University, expressed doubts about the practicality of such interventions, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of Earth’s geological processes. Past attempts to control natural phenomena, such as weather modification experiments, have yielded inconclusive results and raised ethical concerns. ​

Potential Catastrophic Consequences

Detonating an 81-gigaton nuclear bomb beneath Earth’s crust could unleash catastrophic consequences:​

• Seismic Devastation: The explosion could trigger massive earthquakes, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.​
• Volcanic Eruptions: Disturbances in the Earth’s crust might activate dormant volcanoes, releasing ash and gases that could disrupt global climates.​
• Radioactive Contamination: Despite being buried beneath the seabed, the detonation could release radioactive materials into the ocean, contaminating marine ecosystems and entering the food chain.​
• Unintended Climate Effects: Interfering with geological processes on such a scale could have unforeseen impacts on Earth’s climate systems, potentially exacerbating the very issues the intervention aims to mitigate.​

The Illusion of Control

Humanity’s attempts to control natural forces have historically been met with limited success. For instance, efforts to manipulate hurricanes through cloud seeding and other techniques have proven ineffective. The immense energy and complexity of natural systems often render human interventions futile or counterproductive.

A Call for Caution

While the urgency to address climate change necessitates innovative solutions, proposals like detonating massive nuclear bombs beneath Earth’s crust underscore the need for caution. The potential for catastrophic consequences, coupled with ethical and environmental considerations, demands thorough scrutiny and public discourse. As history has shown, the hubris of attempting to control natural forces without fully understanding the ramifications can lead to disastrous outcomes.

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