Why don't we try to destroy tropical cyclones by nuking them?

Re:Why don't we try to destroy tropical cyclones by nuking t... by cema on Saturday July 11, 2009 @11:59AM (#699305)

Perhaps we should target not the eye but the periphery? The point would be not so much to destroy as deflect the hurricane while also fragmenting it. Instead of dropping one in the eye, blow up several nukes around it.

Another point to consider is we can try to use a nuclear explosion in order to prevent a hurricane from forming if we catch it early enough. Is that possible?

I do doubt that we can routinely nuke hurricanes (even ignoring the radiation effects), but looking at just the mechanical effects, I think it would be interesting to take another look at the picture. I am not sure that the effects of turbulence can be calculated, but how much can we get from the first principles?

BTW, Hiroshima was about 15 kt, if I am not mistaken, and the average modern nuke is on the order of 400 kt.

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Re:Why don't we try to destroy tropical cyclones by nuking t... by jballanc on Saturday July 11, 2009 @10:50PM (#699738)

Ultimately, regardless of power, the point is that a nuke's energy is in the impulse. It's destructive to solid material (like buildings and humans), but the impulse travels through the air similar to a sound wave. It's like trying to stop a Tsunami using an underwater nuke. You'd just have two waves interface, and continue moving on their merry way.

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Re:Why don't we try to destroy tropical cyclones by nuking t... by cema on Sunday July 12, 2009 @04:31AM (#699979)

Can we make them cancel each other?

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