Lots Of People Have Suggested Nuking Hurricanes, But Scientists Say No

The transcript discusses the idea of modifying hurricanes, including a proposal by President Trump to explore using nuclear weapons to disrupt them. NOAA frequently receives inquiries about this topic and has a dedicated page to debunk myths. Historical attempts, like Project Stormfury, aimed to weaken storms using silver iodide but were unsuccessful. The NOAA highlights the impracticality and environmental risks of using nuclear weapons, noting that only a small percentage of tropical disturbances become hurricanes, and fallout could cause severe environmental damage.

Which government agency is frequently asked about unconventional hurricane mitigation strategies?

• NASA

• NOAA

• FEMA

• EPA

What was the main goal of Project Stormfury?

• To weaken tropical weather using silver iodide

• To create artificial hurricanes

• To strengthen tropical storms

• To predict hurricane paths

Why was Project Stormfury ultimately deemed unsuccessful?

• It was too expensive

• It caused environmental damage

• It failed to weaken storms effectively

• It was politically controversial

What percentage of tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Basin typically become hurricanes each year?

• 20%

• 6%

• 15%

• 10%

What is a major risk of using nuclear weapons to disrupt hurricanes?

• Creation of new storm systems

• Increased hurricane strength

• Radioactive fallout affecting land areas

• Global warming acceleration