Deep Sea Research: 71% of the Earth As a Fallout Shelter

[CorpGovActivist]

As early as 1954, American military scientists had discovered that nuclear fallout disperses above the ocean's thermocline (depth: 100m, or about 328 feet): http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22nuclear+fallout%22+thermocline

Armed with this newfound knowledge, the military designed - and continues to design - systems that can operate below the thermocline. From our submarines to our underwater communications lines, we have used the oceans to insulate these systems from the unthinkable: nuclear winter.

More recently, the discovery of deep sea hydrothermal vents (and the energy-filled and nutrient-rich ecosystems they foster) has illustrated that - by solving a handful of technological challenges - viable underwater communities could be built, putting our most delicate systems (humans) below the thermocline for extended periods of time.

On February 12, 2007, the Department of the Navy put out this Special Notice: http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N61331/DON-SNOTE-070212-003/Synopsis.html

"Broad Area Announcement for Submarine Escape, Rescue and Diver Safety Effectiveness Research and Development"

...

Objectives include: "evaluating capability to escape from depths deeper than 600 feet" and "Developing no-decompression curves for no-stop downward excursion dives on helium-oxygen from helium-oxygen saturation storage depths of 300 feet of seawater and less"

That last objective could - in a pinch - put key Government officials below the thermocline in a hurry, and on short notice.


The Navy groups running the bid: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Deep+Submergence+Biomedical+Development+Program%22&hl=en&filter=0

AND

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Naval+Experimental+Diving+Unit%22

Jules Verne must have had a crystal ball.

- Dave

P.S. Think those commercial deep sea underwater exploration technologies are all about oil? Think again. Scoping out suitable sites for building underwater is already underway.

[bonito]

1. Talk about putting your head up your ass

To save yourself, I'm pro Life as well as pro choice, but this takes all.

[CorpGovActivist]

2. "Aquanauts" and Astronauts

We've militarized "outer space," why not the "inner space" of the depths? Or, so the doomsday planning goes.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=aquanauts+aquarius

- Dave

[pinto]

3. Interesting technology and research.

"The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) is soliciting pre-proposals and proposals for applied biomedical research focusing on Submarine Escape and Rescue, and Diving Safety and Effectiveness."

fwiw, I don't see a government conspiracy here, though.

[CorpGovActivist]

5. Neither Do I, Necessarily ...

... but the chosen depths do correlate to certain critical depths.

If *I* were in charge of military planning for the unthinkable, I'd look to the deep oceans - especially energy zones that are independent of the sun (such as the hydrothermal vents and the ecosystems they foster) before I looked to space.

For more information on Federal Government procurement for deep sea research (be sure to change the radio button to include both active and archived materials): http://vsearch1.fbo.gov/servlet/SearchServlet

- Dave

[pinto]

7. Good point. The ocean is much more accessible, in relation to space.

[CorpGovActivist]

8. Besides Tang...

... no known food supplies in space.

; )

By contrast, there are proven underwater ecosystems that exist wholly independently of the sun, or any derivative process (e.g., phytoplankton).

- Dave

[pinto]

10. You've seen the deep sea upwelling/vent ecosystem stuff. It's amazing.

And, yeah, Tang won't be available until 7-11 gets the moon franchise. :evilgrin:

[rman]

15. "no conspiracy" doesn't mean it's any good.

Govt. can start or not start nuclear war - and be safe themselves when they do start it.

[vickitulsa]

4. Fascinating stuff!

I can only sigh with sadness when I think of all the cool and wonderful things human beings could be doing with our collective intelligence and technological ingenuity ... since what is happening instead is a constant spiral into "mad science" that is political and, well, maddening!

Thanks for posting this; I never tire of reading about the intriguing experiments and explorations going on in the science specialties.

Can't help but wonder if someday a few surviving historians will be writing about all that could have been "if only" humankind had put its enormous potential to truly GOOD use instead of folly.

[CorpGovActivist]

6. 100% Agreed!

I met Dr. Robert Ballard - the head of the team that discovered the Titanic - and his enthusiasm for the biological treasures in the ocean was infectious.

Read about the giant worms he found, and how their hemoglobin might lead to immunological breakthroughs for us: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=robert+ballard+worms+hemoglobin&spell=1

Unfortunately, as you point out, too much "pure science" is now perverted by the question, "How can this knowledge provide a military advantage on the battlefield?"

- Dave

[pinto]

9. I'm an optimist. I think scientific advances will continue, regardless...

[CorpGovActivist]

11. As Albert Einstein Said...

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."

I, too, am an optimist (though it's hard to argue with Einstein's take on the subject). I think that the Internet has been a tremendous boon for humanity-oriented technology, and will continue to be such. I'd be mighty curious to know what he would make of it.

The problem, too often, is that the brilliant thinkers toil - unknowingly and unwittingly - for unworthy patrons.

From at least the time of Leonardo, those who would indulge their scientific flights of fancy must go cap in hand to those with the coin.

From the Medici to the Pentagon neocons ...

- Dave

[pinto]

13. I bet he'd love it and hate it. At once, unbridled and unverified.

As for the brilliant thinkers, I believe they toil because they must. Hence my optimism.

:thumbsup:

[gravity]

12. Sounds really cool

Except for the part about nuclear winter

[CorpGovActivist]

14. Like Many Dual-Use Techs...

... this research could turn out to be "plan for the worst, hope for the best" - with significant beneficial side effects for humankind.

Here's hoping.

- Dave