Could a nuclear explosion simulate the effects of natural disasters?

Question

for example, could a nuclear weapon (perhaps more powerful than anything currently in existence) explode in the water or land, causing flood, tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanos, or all of them? i know it sounds rubbish but on grounds of speculation, could it be possible? ignore radioactive fallout. please give thoughtful, educated theories. thanks

Answer 1

Theoretically if the bombs were strategically placed along active fault lines at an appropriate depth... you could jump start a tectonic movement and cause any of the above mentioned natural phenomena.  But the cost to do such a thing would be insurmountable... not to mention completely moronic in any sense of the word.

Answer 2

The russians tested a nuke at Novaya Zemlya that produced a 6.7 richter scale earthquake. 6.7 isn't enough to cause a significant tsunami.

The bomb, used in a subsurface test, was far smaller than the largest nuclear bomb tested in the atmosphere.

The largest atmospheric nuclear test, Tsar Bomba, bobbled the surface tension of the atmosphere.

The testing at sea appears to only produce lots of steam and vapour. No big tsunami although ships used in the test were damaged. I think the force gets directed upward because it is the path of least resistance. Radiation was a much bigger problem.

I guess a nuclear blast at the magnetic poles might cause a temporary anomoly in the earths magnetic field. If that were possible, then damaging the magnetic field would be the most ruinous to the earths biosphere.