Autonomous Technology in Scenario by Rare Geophysical Processes (Underwater Focus)

Abstract

From an ecological perspective, scientific investigation of the “Earth system” reveals its complexity, evidenced by the interaction of geophysical processes –which occur in the “global atmospheric system”; in the “world ocean” –both favoring the “world climate”; in "the interior of the globe"; and, between each of these parts and outer space. Environmental risks (geophysical) exist due to the configuration of extreme circumstances (CAPRA, 1982; MCWILLIAMS, 2006; SKINNER and MURCK, 2011). In the nuclear age, and taking into account the possibility of employing emerging autonomous technology as a weapon of this category, a geopolitical risk exists (KAHN, 2007; NICHOLS et al., 2022). Crossing between risks (geophysical and geopolitical) can be imagined (WEICK, 1989; GAUB, 2020; MCLENNAN et al., 2021). Analyzing the plausibility of the coincident occurrence of risks (crossed–geophysical and geopolitical) as a critical uncertainty for scenarios –and due to the vulnerability of autonomous systems to the (sui generis) flow of fluids by unlikely geophysical processes –the present study ratifies the technology "in the sea” (underwater, in focus) as a possible threat to the “Earth-system”; in the conception of scientific thought for the 21st century.