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brooklynite

(94,657 posts) Mon Mar 10, 2014, 03:43 PM Mar 2014

Nuclear Test Experts to Check If Plane Exploded

Source: ABC News

The head of the organization that monitors the nuclear test ban treaty said Monday he has asked its experts to see if they detected an explosion at high altitude of the missing Malaysian Airlines plane.

Lassina Zerbo, executive director of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization told a news conference that the CTBTO uses "infrasound" — or infrasonic sensors — to monitor the earth mainly for atmospheric nuclear explosions.

There is no sign of the missing Boeing 777 carrying 239 people, which lost contact over the sea between Malaysia and Vietnam early Saturday. Zerbo said he asked the head of the CTBTO's International Data Center to look at the data "and get back to me."

Zerbo said infrasound would be the best technology to check for an explosion on the missing plane if there was a monitoring station nearby, "or the explosion is at a level or at an amplitude that it could be detected."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nuclear-test-experts-check-plane-exploded-22849536

Well, that's a different approach for now...

9 replies

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Nuclear Test Experts to Check If Plane Exploded (Original Post) brooklynite Mar 2014 OP

Very interesting........ nt rdharma Mar 2014 #1

Wouldn't there be tons of debris if that happened? Renew Deal Mar 2014 #2

Assumption is that an explosion would cause fragmentation and a small surface area for debris brooklynite Mar 2014 #3

Certainly, but finding that debris can be difficult when it's in an ocean groundloop Mar 2014 #4

If the plane exploded at altitude debris would be scattered - even before it hit the water LongTomH Mar 2014 #5

frightening riverwalker Mar 2014 #6

Very unlikely. Nuclear explosions release telltale particles which closeupready Mar 2014 #7

Woah, let's be clear...they are NOT searching for a nuclear blast. brooklynite Mar 2014 #8

^^THIS^^ nt longship Mar 2014 #9

rdharma

(6,057 posts)

1. Very interesting........ nt

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 03:49 PM

Mar 2014

Renew Deal

(81,866 posts)

2. Wouldn't there be tons of debris if that happened?

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 03:52 PM

Mar 2014

brooklynite

(94,657 posts)

3. Assumption is that an explosion would cause fragmentation and a small surface area for debris

Reply to Renew Deal (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 03:56 PM

Mar 2014

groundloop

(11,520 posts)

4. Certainly, but finding that debris can be difficult when it's in an ocean

Reply to Renew Deal (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 03:56 PM

Mar 2014

Also, it seems like this would shed light on whether it was an explosive device at the heart of this disaster compared to something else such as structural failure.

LongTomH

(8,636 posts)

5. If the plane exploded at altitude debris would be scattered - even before it hit the water

Reply to Renew Deal (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 04:12 PM

Mar 2014

Ocean currents would likely cause more scattering underwater.

Sadly for the families, recovery of bodies and personal effects looks very difficult. Some will likely never be found.

riverwalker

(8,694 posts)

6. frightening

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 04:21 PM

Mar 2014

I remember all the chatter about "suitcase nukes" years ago. Could this have been what happened?

closeupready

(29,503 posts)

7. Very unlikely. Nuclear explosions release telltale particles which

Reply to riverwalker (Reply #6)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 04:34 PM

Mar 2014

are detected by satellites, and which can only be released in detectable quantities by nuclear explosions; thus, one would think the IAEA would have said something by this point. But, I'm not a scientist or anything.

brooklynite

(94,657 posts)

8. Woah, let's be clear...they are NOT searching for a nuclear blast.

Reply to riverwalker (Reply #6)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 04:48 PM

Mar 2014

They are repurposing their equipment to look for signs of a (conventional) in air explosion.

longship

(40,416 posts)

9. ^^THIS^^ nt

Reply to brooklynite (Reply #8)

Mon Mar 10, 2014, 05:24 PM

Mar 2014

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