Is it a good idea to dispose of radioactive waste in volcanoes?
Gretchen Bourdeau
Hi Gretchen,
That's a pretty interesting question, and I think the answer is a very loud
NO!! it would be a terrible idea!
The main problem is that volcanoes are kind of famous for erupting stuff OUT,
not swallowing stuff in. Sometimes the eruptions spread material into the upper
atmosphere and it goes around the world. That's not exactly what you want to do
with radioactive waste.
I've heard people suggest this before, but when you stop and think for a moment
what the fate of that material might be, I think you'd change your
mind.
Thanks for asking a good question.
Sincerely,
Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii
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