What would happen if you exploded a nuclear bomb at the bottom of the ocean?

Question

I got to thinking about this with the whole N. Korea missle test deal.. If they launched, and we intercepted it, and it fell to the bottom of the ocean with the warhead undamaged, then went off--what would occur?

these are great answers! in my opinion, this is how 'yahoo answers' should work--imparting knowledge, along with some good laughs. thanks!

Answer 1

As with any thermonuclear explosion, you obtain a huge amount of radiated energy in a very small location in a very small amount of time. This radiated energy would be absorbed by the surrounding ocean water very quickly. This would cause a HUGE amount of water around the detonation site to flash-boil and expand rapidly. This would create a propagating hydrostatic shock wave that would be felt all throughout the Pacific, mostly in the form of tidal waves. These tidal waves will likely be fairly small, however depending upon the composition of the ocean floor, it may also let loose alot of rock and cause some underwater avalanches (another common source of tidal waves, esp. the bigger ones).

Depending upon the depth of the detonation, very few of the radiated photons may actually reach the surface, and thus almost all of the energy will be consumed by water. Besides no "blinding flash", this would also mean that the visible "water explosion" made up of mostly vapor would be larger than the equivalent land- or airburst vapor cloud. If close enough to the surface, the flash-boiled water would quickly rise and break the surface with a large gaseous explosion, and the vapor would climb into the air and spread once it achieves altitude, so yes the "mushroom cloud" will still form. If it were very deep, though, the gasses would eventually spread and, to some extent, dissipate, resulting in just a lot of surface turbulence and foamed gasses.

Do some research on "Operation Crossroads", which were two U.S. nuclear detonation tests in 1946. ABLE was an airburst at 158m, and BAKER was 27m underwater (yes, super-shallow, but it gives you a fair starting point). There have been other underwater nuclear test detonations by various countries, but their speifics escape my memory at the moment. :p

Answer 2

Good question. It is no big secret. Just like a bunch of TNT or any other explosion, a nuclear bomb will create a enormous amount of pressure. This large region of high pressure will quickly expand to a pressure equilibrium shape. Since the bottom of the ocean has a high pressure already, the shape of the ensuing bubble will not be circular as in the atmosphere. The 'bubble' will then adjust in a dynamic way. This will depend on size and depth. There is a nice declassified memo to read.

But, don't expect this to happen. It would require a extraordinary device to survive being hit while in a missile, then surviving impact with the ocean surface, and finally, withstanding the pressure at depth.

Added:
I didn't see all those other answers, now that I do, maybe everyone should read the document first. In other words, some are pretty confused about this, and don't know it.

Answer 3

Nuclear Bomb Underwater

Answer 4

Probably not much. Dozens of nukes were exploded on the bottom of the ocean during the 50's and 60's without much effect. Underwater the nuclear weapon would cause an explosion and then an implosion as the displaced water creates a vacuum and is replaced by surrounding water. Basically, the deeper the bomb, the less effect felt on the surface. Now I'm not sure what would happen if one exploded ON the surface, but probably not as much as would happen if it exploded at about 1500 feet above the surface.

Answer 5

All the life nearby would be killed instantly from compression. A tsunami COULD occur. Who knows what substances would be released into the water if the bomb hit certain stones - fresh/saltwater fish might not be able to breathe if 1,000 tons of limestone were suddenly pulverized and released into the water. The radiation would circulate through the ocean by the Coriolis effect.

A new cold war would begin (at BEST) if this "test" missile contained radioactive materials.

In short, it would suck.

Answer 6

I believe the current situation only involves a test of a long range missle. Not nuclear. Possibly a step in the direction of being able to fire a nuke over some distance, but at this point, "just" a missle.

Answer 7

it rather is a delusion created that the international would be destroyed. each and all the bombs huge or small have a unfold. the variety of destruction would be of the order one hundred sq. kms. there will be a shadow variety which would be one thousand km and there will be wind affected areas. consequently, it rather is delusion that the international will pass away. The maximum effective bomb may be waiting to wreck a city of manhattan length and endanger a optimum inhabitants interior the manhattan district. So one want no longer be terrified of it. Tsunami which India felt may be equivalent of hundreds greatest bombs the international has exploded.

Answer 8

You would certainly get a shock-wave, the fallout and heat energy would cause tremendous local damage, then the radioactive fallout would have long term impact on the oceans ecosystem.

The wave would be a tsunami, its size depending on the power of the blast. It would not likely be as strong as a huge earthquake.

I believe the French used to do this sort of thing and they have done some pretty serious damage.

Answer 9

If a large warhead were detonated Deep on the ocean floor, under the right circumstances...



Long John Silver's Would have a sale on fish sticks!
Har!! Har!! Har!!

Answer 10

Interesting question. I think there would be a tremendous shock wave and the water and any marine life immediately surrounding the explosion would be vaporized creating a pocket of low density that would quickly collapse because of the weight of the water above it. We'd probably see the surface water jump up a bit but otherwise it would be somewhat uneventful.