An international team of researchers has recently completed the first comprehensive mapping of the seafloor of Bikini Atoll, the site of the infamous nuclear tests of Operation Crossroads in 1946. The results, published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, provide an unprecedented view of the only simulated underwater nuclear battlefield on Earth, revealing not only the remains of the 12 ships sunk during the tests but also the lasting impact of the atomic explosions on the atoll’s seabed.
The study, led by Michael L. Brennan and James P. Delgado of SEARCH Inc., along with Arthur C. Trembanis and his team from the University of Delaware, used side-scan sonar technology and autonomous underwater vehicles to create a detailed map of the Bikini lagoon floor.
This innovative approach has, for the first time in over 75 years, allowed visualization of the entire underwater landscape created by the nuclear explosions, offering new insights into the extent and nature of the damage caused by the detonations.

What we’ve discovered is nothing short of a submerged lunar landscape, Dr. Brennan explained in an exclusive interview. The scars left by the Able and Baker bombs are still visible on the seafloor, forming craters and sediment patterns that tell the story of those cataclysmic moments with remarkable clarity.
The team identified a main crater approximately 800 meters in diameter, created by the underwater explosion of the Baker bomb, as well as numerous smaller craters and debris patterns stretching across several square kilometers.
The researchers emphasize that this study goes beyond merely mapping shipwrecks, significant as they may be. We are documenting what is essentially a macro-artifact, the researchers point out. The seafloor itself is a testament to the nuclear age, perhaps marking the dawn of the Anthropocene, the geological epoch defined by human impact on Earth’s systems.

Among the most notable findings are the well-preserved remains of several iconic ships, including the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier and the Japanese battleship Nagato. The arrangement of these wrecks and the observed damage patterns offer new insights into the physics of underwater nuclear explosions and their effects on naval structures.
In addition, the team identified numerous smaller objects scattered across the seafloor, ranging from aircraft and military vehicles to test instruments that were thrown from the decks of target ships by the force of the explosions.
The study also highlights the importance of considering Bikini Atoll as part of a broader maritime cultural landscape of the Cold War. The researchers note that the effects of Operation Crossroads extend far beyond the waters of the central Pacific, with additional irradiated ships sunk in places as far as Hawaii and the west coast of the United States. We are talking about an archaeological landscape that literally spans half the Pacific, they explain. It is a physical testament to the global scale of the nuclear arms race and its enduring environmental consequences.

The team’s findings hold not only archaeological and historical significance but also raise important questions about the environmental legacy of nuclear testing. Although radiation levels at the atoll have significantly decreased since the tests, the researchers caution that the long-term ecological impact of these events remains an important area for future research.
The project was made possible through a unique collaboration between academics, the documentary film industry, and experts in underwater technology. According to the researchers, this work would not have been possible a decade ago; the combination of advanced underwater mapping technologies with archaeological and historical perspectives is allowing us to reexamine crucial historical events with an unprecedented level of detail.
The researchers hope that their findings will not only contribute to a better understanding of this crucial chapter in 20th-century history but also serve as a powerful reminder of the costs and lasting consequences of nuclear war. The seafloor of Bikini is a silent monument to an era of global tension and potential destruction. It is our responsibility as scientists and as a society to learn from this legacy and work to ensure that such landscapes of devastation are never repeated.
The study also raises important questions about the preservation and management of underwater cultural heritage sites. With increasing interest in dive tourism at places like Bikini, the researchers emphasize the need to balance public access with the long-term preservation of these unique historical sites. These wrecks and the surrounding underwater landscape are simultaneously a war cemetery, a scientific laboratory, and a powerful memorial. Managing them requires a careful, multifaceted approach that respects their historical, scientific, and commemorative importance.
SOURCES
Brennan, M.L., Trembanis, A.C., Delgado, J.P. et al. The Maritime Cultural Landscape of the Simulated Nuclear Battlefield at Bikini Atoll. J Mari Arch (2024). doi.org/10.1007/s11457-024-09416-4
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