Question

During the Cold War, a B-52 bomber accidentally dropped an unarmed nuclear device on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Upon returning to the drop zone many years later, the device had gone missing. As a glaciologist on the project, where should you look for the missing device?

Answer 1

To find the missing unarmed nuclear device dropped on the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Cold War, a glaciologist should track the natural flow of the ice and utilize methods like radar to locate it beneath the surface, considering accumulation and ablation of the glacier over the years.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the Cold War, a B-52 bomber accidentally dropped an unarmed nuclear device on the Greenland Ice Sheet. As time passed, this device went missing, presumed to have been enveloped by the shifting ice. In searching for the missing device, a glaciologist should consider the potential movement of the ice sheet. The ice sheet's flow could have carried the device downstream from the original drop zone. Thus, the search should extend beyond the drop zone, following the natural flow and movement patterns of the glacier. Additionally, the glaciologist should account for accumulation and ablation processes that could potentially bury or expose the device over the years. Using stratigraphic methods to ascertain historic ice movement and employing radar technology to penetrate the ice may help in locating the device. Due to the dangers associated with a lost nuclear device, it is imperative to handle recovery efforts with utmost caution.