What Happens If a Nuclear Missile is Detonated in a Hurricane's Eye?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of detonating a nuclear missile in the eye of a hurricane. Participants explore potential effects on the hurricane's structure and behavior, including changes in size, power, and chemical interactions. The conversation includes theoretical considerations and speculative outcomes related to this extreme event.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that detonating a nuclear missile could potentially increase the size and power of the hurricane.
  • Others question what specific effects the shock wave from a nuclear detonation would have on the hurricane, noting the need for a significant weapon to produce an observable impact.
  • There is speculation that the blast might cause a condensation effect, possibly dispersing energy into the ocean, but the energy would still remain in the system.
  • Concerns are raised about radioactive fallout and its implications, as atmospheric detonations are banned due to these risks.
  • One participant mentions that chemically, not much would happen aside from some ionization of the atmosphere, as hurricanes primarily consist of water vapor and air.
  • A humorous conclusion is presented that combines the hurricane and nuclear bomb into a "radioactive hurricane," though some participants note that this lacks a proper coefficient.
  • There is a suggestion that the water in the hurricane might condense rapidly on the shockwave, potentially leading to heavy downpours after the blast dissipates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the potential outcomes of detonating a nuclear missile in a hurricane, with no consensus reached on the specific effects or implications of such an event.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes speculative reasoning and assumptions about the scale of the nuclear weapon required and the nature of hurricanes, which may not be fully addressed or modeled.

vincentm
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Me and my friends are having a discussion on Hurricanes and the question came up if one was to detonate nuclear missile into the eye of a hurricane. what would happen ,some said the hurricane would get larger and more powerful. Is there some sort of answer to this? Maybe also a mathematical explanation as to what will happen chemically?
 
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The math would probably be something a supercomputer would crank out, not something postable on a forum. Of course, when the theoretical part is too hard, i always say blow crap up :D
 
The question is "what effect would the shock wave of a nuclear detonation have on the hurricane"? i.e. would it disrupt the hurricane?

I don't know if anyone has modeled it, so it is hard so say what it would do.

Hurricanes are large - area and volumewise.

Presumably to have an effect, a sizeable nuclear weapon would need to be used - probably in the megaton range. Possibly the blast would cause a condensation effect, which would disperse some energy - presumably into the ocean.

The problem is that the energy is still there, and then the question becomes - would the hurrican reform?

A major problem with the idea is the radioactive fallout - which has to go somewhere - like into the ocean or atmosphere. This is a principal reason why atmospheric detonations are banned and all testing has been done underground.

Chemically, not a lot would happen - some of the atmosphere is ionized and recombines. The hurricane is mostly water vapor/droplets dispersed in air (78% N2, 21% O2, + CO2 and trace gases).
 
vincentm said:
Me and my friends are having a discussion on Hurricanes and the question came up if one was to detonate nuclear missile into the eye of a hurricane. what would happen ,some said the hurricane would get larger and more powerful. Is there some sort of answer to this? Maybe also a mathematical explanation as to what will happen chemically?

This has been brought up before. The conclusion was:

[tex]\text{hurricane}+\text{nuclear bomb}=\text{radioactive hurricane}[/tex]
 
saltydog said:
This has been brought up before. The conclusion was:

[tex]\text{hurricane}+\text{nuclear bomb}=\text{radioactive hurricane}[/tex]

I think there's a coefficient missing there
 
The water in the hurricane might condense very rapidly on the shockwave which in turn might cause serious downpours when the blast disspates.
 

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