How do governments and militaries test out nuclear weapons without creating disastrous effects on the environment/ecosystem?

Question

Just like the title says, I don’t understand how they can test nuclear bombs in the desert, or Bikini Atoll (in the ocean) without permanently irradiating the ecosystem (and consequently, Earth) beyond repair.

They’ve tested dozens and dozens of nuclear bombs throughout the years, and I’m confused why that hasn’t messed our world up?

In: 352

Answer 1

It’s simple – they can’t. Nuclear tests, even ones which are done far underground affect the environment and ecosystem. The Earth and Atmosphere are large, expansive and extremely tolerant of forces imposed on them, but every nuclear explosion has an effect which propagates through the ecosystem and causes changes. So by the way, does every volcano eruption and every thunderstorm and so do you.