Can humans live underground?

Moving underground could help humans avoid extreme heat or cold caused by climate change, but it also comes with many challenges.

Underground museum in Coober Pedy. Photo: John W Banagan

In a world that is changing and experiencing increasingly extreme weather events, it may be time for humans to consider adapting to living underground. Surrounded by rocks and soil that absorb and retain heat, temperatures can be kept more stable without relying on air conditioning or energy-hungry heaters, according to Science Alert .

Throughout history, humans and animals have lived comfortably underground. In the opal mining town of Coober Pedy in South Australia, 60% of the population lives underground. The name Coober Pedy comes from the Aboriginal phrase kupa piti, meaning “people in the hole.” On a sweltering 52C summer day and a chilly 2C winter day, the town’s underground dwellings maintain a comfortable 23C. Without the shelter of natural rock, summer air conditioning would be prohibitively expensive for many.

Above ground, summer temperatures can cause birds to fall from the sky and electrical equipment to short-circuit. But underground, many residents have comfortable homes with cozy living rooms, swimming pools, and plenty of space, provided they keep digging. Homes must be at least 8 feet (2.5 meters) below ground to prevent roof collapses. Despite these regulations, roof collapses still occur occasionally.

In the 1960s and 1970s, locals used picks and dynamite to dig holes in the ground. Today, they use industrial digging tools. Chiseling away large boulders doesn’t take long, as long as the sandstone and siltstone are soft enough to cut with a pocketknife. Sometimes, though, people accidentally dig into their neighbors’ homes.

In 1963, a Turkish man used a sledgehammer to smash a basement wall while renovating his house in the Cappadocian region. After chickens kept disappearing inside the hole, he investigated and discovered a giant underground maze of tunnels. It was the lost city of Derinkuyu.

Built as early as 2000 BC, the 18-story tunnel network reaches 76 meters underground, with 15,000 shafts bringing light and air into a maze of churches, stables, warehouses and houses built to house 20,000 people. Researchers believe Derinkuyu was used almost continuously for thousands of years as a shelter during war. But the underground city was abruptly abandoned in the 1920s.

While outdoor temperatures in Cappadocia range from 0 degrees Celsius in the winter to 30 degrees Celsius in the summer, the underground city remains a cool 13 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for preserving fruit and vegetables. Some of the tunnels are still used today to store crates of pears, potatoes, lemons, oranges, apples, cabbages and cauliflowers. Like Coober Pedy, the rock here is very soft and has low humidity, making it easy to build tunnels.

Derinkuyu underground city in Turkey. Photo: iStock

While most people are willing to spend short periods underground, the idea of ​​living permanently is much harder to accept. The underground world is associated with death in many cultures. Being underground in a confined space can trigger claustrophobia and anxiety about poor ventilation. “We don’t belong there. Physiologically, the human body is not designed for life underground,” says Will Hunt, author of Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet.

People who live underground for long periods without exposure to daylight can sleep for up to 30 hours at a time. Disruption to circadian rhythms can cause a variety of health problems. Another risk of living underground is flash flooding, which is a particular concern as climate change brings more extreme weather events like hurricanes. Several homeless people have drowned in tunnels under Las Vegas. These tunnels, which can hold about 1,500 people, were built to carry floodwaters. They filled within minutes, giving people no time to evacuate.

Underground construction often requires heavier, more expensive materials that can withstand pressure. This force must be measured through extensive geological surveys before excavation begins. Temperatures below ground are also affected by what is happening above ground.

A study of the Chicago Loop neighborhood found that temperatures have increased significantly since the 1950s as more heat-generating infrastructure, such as parking lots, train stations, and basements, was built into the area. The increase in temperature can cause the soil to expand by as much as 12 mm, which can eventually damage the building’s structure. For underground environments to be habitable, they must be safe, have natural light, be well ventilated, and provide a sense of connection to the world above.

Montreal’s 32-kilometre underground city, RÉSO, epitomizes this idea. The complex links buildings so people can escape the sub-zero temperatures outdoors. The space combines offices, retail, hotels and schools with the environment above ground.

An Khang (According to Science Alert )

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