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Nuclear Weapons Effect

 

These tables describe the effects of various nuclear blast sizes. All figures are for 15-mph winds. Thermal burns represent injuries to an unprotected person. The legend describes the data.

1-MT SURFACE BURST 15-MPH WIND
Miles Downwind of Ground Zero
Weapon Effects Units MSD .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 1 2 3 4 5 10 50 100
Thermal Burns degree FB FB FB FB FB FB 3 3 3 3 3 -- -- --
Thermal Energy Skin cal/cm2 3500 3500 2300 1600 1200 900 750 140 52 28 16 3 -- --
Maximum Blast Wind mph 2000 2000 1750 1500 1400 1100 800 260 150 100 70 22 -- --
Maximum Overpress. psi 200 200 130 85 70 48 38 9 5 3 2 1 -- --
Overpressure Arrival seconds 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 8 14 16 45 -- --
Overpressure Duration seconds 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 45 -- --
Max. Dynamic Pressure psi 350 350 190 130 100 58 30 2 <1 <1 <1 -- -- --
Peak Vert. Displacement inches 11.7 11.7 8.8 6.6 5.8 4.5 3.9 1.4 0.8 0.5 -- -- -- --
Peak Horiz. Displacement inches 3.9 3.9 2.9 2.2 1.9 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 -- -- -- --
Total Neutron Radiation rems 1000000 1000000 500000 210000 130000 56000 32000 40 -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Fallout Gamma rems 12988 12988 12988 12988 12988 12988 12988 12988 12988 12988 12509 9137 1073 277
Total Initial Gamma rems 250000 120000 80000 50000 20000 10000 80 3 -- -- -- -- -- --
Fallout Arrival Time hours 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.9 6.3
Fallout Radiation Doses
Week 1 rems/day 1692 1692 1692 1692 1692 1692 1692 1692 1692 1692 1665 1192 131 32
Week 2 rems/day 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 51 37 7 2
Week 3 rems/day 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 34 24 5 2
Week 4 rems/day 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 18 3 1
Month 2 rems/day 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 0.5 0.2
Month 3 rems/day 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 0.4 0.1
Month 4 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0.3 0.1
Month 5 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.3 0.1
Month 6 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.2 0.1

Crater Radius = 370-660 ft (dry, hard rock-soft, wet soil)
Crater Depth = 190-260 ft (dry, hard rock-soft, wet soil)
Maximum Cloud Radius = 10.0 miles
Maximum Cloud Height = 13.0 miles
Maximum Fireball Radius (FB) = 0.9 miles
Minimum Survival Distance (MSD) = 0.5 miles
-- = No Measurable Effect

Note: Decimal places are used to show progression of effects and are not intended to indicate fractional accuracy.

 

500-KT SURFACE BURST 15-MPH WIND
Miles Downwind of Ground Zero
Weapon Effects Units MSD .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 1 2 3 4 5 10 50 100
Thermal Burns degree FB FB FB FB 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 -- -- --
Thermal Energy Skin cal/cm2 3250 2000 1300 900 600 490 360 70 27 13 8 -- -- --
Maximum Blast Wind mph 2000 1600 1400 1200 800 600 550 220 105 70 48 -- -- --
Maximum Overpressure psi 200 120 70 50 36 28 23 7 3 2 1 -- -- --
Overpressure Arrival seconds 0 <1 <1 <1 1 1 2 5 10 14 20 -- -- --
Overpressure Duration seconds <1 <1 <1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 -- -- --
Max. Dynamic Pressure psi 300 170 110 60 25 14 10 1 <1 -- -- -- -- --
Peak Vert. Displacement inches 9.8 6.9 4.7 3.7 3.0 2.5 2.1 0.8 -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Horiz. Displacement inches 3.3 2.3 1.6 1.3 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.3 -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Neutron Radiation rems 1000000 600000 220000 110000 46000 23000 14000 40 -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Fallout Gamma rems 11854 11854 11854 11854 11854 11854 11854 11854 11854 11154 10387 7035 771 210
Total Initial Gamma rems 125000 125000 60000 40000 20000 9000 4000 10 1 -- -- -- -- --
Fallout Arrival Time hours 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3 6
Fallout Radiation Doses
Week 1 rems/day 1541 1541 1541 154 1541 154 1541 1541 1541 1446 1351 914 95 24  
Week 2 rems/day 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 44 42 28 5 2
Week 3 rems/day 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 28 19 3 1
Week 4 rems/day 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 22 20 14 2 0.8
Month 2 rems/day 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 0.3 0.1
Month 3 rems/day 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 0.3 0.1
Month 4 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.2 0.1
Month 5 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.2 0.1
Month 6 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0.2 0.1

Crater Radius =317-528 ft (dry,hard rock-soft,wet soil)
Crater Depth =148-206 ft (dry,hard rock-soft,wet soil)
Maximum Cloud Radius =7.4 miles
Maximum Cloud Height =11 miles
Maximum Fireball Radius (FB) =0.7 miles
Minimum Survival Distance (MSD) =0.4 miles
-- =No Measurable Effect

Note: Decimal places are used to show progression of effects and are not intended to indicate fractional accuracy.

 

200-KT SURFACE BURST 15-MPH WIND
Miles Downwind of Ground Zero
 
Weapon Effects Units MSD .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 1 2 3 4 5 10 50 100
Thermal Burns degree FB FB 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 -- -- --
Thermal Energy Skin cal/cm2 1500 900 560 400 300 220 180 35 14 7 4 -- -- --
Maximum Blast Wind mph 2000 1200 750 600 480 400 340 120 65 40 28 -- -- --
Maximum Overpressure psi 200 52 35 25 20 15 12 4 2 1 -- -- -- --
Overpressure Arrival seconds 0 <1 1 1 1 2 2 5 10 16 20 -- -- --
Overpressure Duration seconds <1 <1 <1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 -- -- --
Max. Dynamic Pressure psi 300 65 25 12 7 5 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Vert. Displacement inches 7.9 2.9 2.2 1.6 1.3 1.0 0.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Horiz. Displacement inches 2.6 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Neutron Radiation rems 1000000 175000 76000 35000 20000 10000 4500 10 -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Fallout Gamma rems 10464 10464 10464 10464 10464 10464 10464 10464 9925 8938 7854 776 507 138
Total Initial Gamma rems 50000 50000 20000 9000 4000 2500 1000 3 -- -- -- -- -- --
Fallout Arrival Time hours 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3 6
Fallout Radiation Doses
Week 1 rems/day 1362 1362 1362 1362 1362 1362 1362 1362 1290 1157 1024 643 62 16
Week 2 rems/day 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 40 36 32 20 3 1
Week 3 rems/day 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 26 24 21 13 2 0.8
Week 4 rems/day 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 19 17 15 10 2 0.6
Month 2 rems/day 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 0.2 0.1
Month 3 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.2 0.1
Month 4 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.9 0.2 0.1
Month 5 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.8 0.1 --
Month 6 rems/day 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.7 0.1 --

Crater Radius =238-396 ft (dry, hard rock-soft, wet soil)
Crater Depth =106-159 ft (dry, hard rock-soft, wet soil)
Maximum Cloud Radius =5 miles
Maximum Cloud Height =9 miles
Maximum Fireball Radius (FB) =0.5 miles
Minimum Survival Distance (MSD) =0.3 miles
-- =No Measurable Effect

Note: Decimal places are used to show progression of effects and are not intended to indicate fractional accuracy.



100-KT SURFACE BURST 15-MPH WIND
Miles Downwind of Ground Zero
 
Weapon Effects Units MSD .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 1 2 3 4 5 10 50 100
Thermal Burns degree FB 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 -- -- --
Thermal Energy Skin cal/cm2 2500 500 350 230 180 130 110 22 9 7 3 -- -- --
Maximum Blast Wind mph 2000 750 500 400 340 280 240 85 -- -- -- -- -- --
Maximum Overpressure psi 200 30 21 15 12 10 8 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
Overpressure Arrival seconds <1 <1 <1 1 1 2 2 8 -- -- -- -- -- --
Overpressure Duration seconds <1 <1 <1 1 1 1 1 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
Max. Dynamic Pressure psi 300 20 9 5 3 2 1 <1 -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Vert. Displacement inches 6.9 1.5 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Horiz. Displacement inches 2.3 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Neutron Radiation rems 1000000 80000 25000 15000 7500 4000 1600 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Fallout Gamma rems 9554 9554 9554 9554 9554 9554 9554 9064 8507 7478 6379 3753 375 100
Total Initial Gamma rems 25000 25000 10000 4500 2000 1200 500 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
Fallout Arrival Time hours 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 3 6
Fallout Radiation Doses
Week 1 rems/day 1240 1240 1240 1240 1240 1240 1240 1174 1107 969 831 493 45 12
Week 2 rems/day 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 36 34 30 26 15 3 0.9
Week 3 rems/day 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 24 22 20 17 10 2 0.6
Week 4 rems/day 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 17 15 12 7 1 0.4
Month 2 rems/day 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 0.2 0.1
Month 3 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.8 0.1 --
Month 4 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0.7 0.1 --
Month 5 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0.6 0.1 --
Month 6 rems/day 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.9 0.5 0.1 --

Crater Radius =211-317 ft (dry,hard rock-soft,wet soil)
Crater Depth =90-127 ft (dry,hard rock-soft,wet soil)
Maximum Cloud Radius =3.7 miles
Maximum Cloud Height =7 miles
Maximum Fireball Radius (FB) =0.35 miles
Minimum Survival Distance (MSD) =0.24 miles
-- =No Measurable Effect

Note: Decimal places are used to show progression of effects and are not intended to indicate fractional accuracy.



50-KT SURFACE BURST 15-MPH WIND
Miles Downwind of Ground Zero
 
Weapon Effects Units MSD .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 1 2 3 4 5 10 50 100
Thermal Burns degree 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 -- -- -- -- --
Thermal Energy Skin cal/cm2 2400 250 170 120 90 70 50 10 4 2 1 -- -- --
Maximum Blast Wind mph 2000 470 350 290 240 210 170 60 30 -- -- -- -- --
Maximum Overpressure psi 200 19 13 10 8 7 6 2 1 -- -- -- -- --
Overpressure Arrival seconds <1 <1 2 2 2 2 2 6 10 -- -- -- -- --
Overpressure Duration seconds <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 1 1 2 2 -- -- -- -- --
Max. Dynamic Pressure psi 325 7 4 2 2 1 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Vert. Displacement inches 6.0 0.7 0.4 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Peak Horiz. Displacement inches 2.0 0.2 0.1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Neutron Radiation rems 1000000 30000 17500 7500 3000 2000 1000 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Total Fallout Gamma rems 8645 8645 8645 8645 8645 8645 8645 7980 7301 6210 5168 2912 280 73
Total Initial Gamma rems 12000 12000 5000 2000 1000 500 250 7 -- -- -- -- -- --
Fallout Arrival Time hours 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3 6
Fallout Radiation Doses
Week 1 rems/day 1130 1130 1130 1130 1130 1130 1130 1041 951 813 674 378 33 9
Week 2 rems/day 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 32 29 25 21 12 2 0.7
Week 3 rems/day 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 21 19 17 14 8 1 0.4
Week 4 rems/day 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 14 12 10 6 0.9 0.3
Month 2 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0.8 0.1 --
Month 3 rems/day 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0.6 0.1 --
Month 4 rems/day 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.5 0.1 --
Month 5 rems/day 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.9 0.8 0.5 0.1 --
Month 6 rems/day 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.1 --

Crater Radius =185-317 ft (dry, hard rock-soft, wet soil)
Crater Depth =79-132 ft (dry, hard rock-soft, wet soil)
Maximum Cloud Radius =2.8 miles
Maximum Cloud Height =7.5 miles
Maximum Fireball Radius (FB) =0.4 miles
Minimum Survival Distance (MSD) =0.19 miles
-- =No Measurable Effect

Note: Decimal places are used to show progression of effects and are not intended to indicate fractional accuracy.



LEGEND FOR WEAPON EFFECTS TABLES
1 Thermal Burns Degree of burn an unprotected person would receive.
 
2 Thermal Energy-Skin The heat, in calories per square centimeter (Cal/cm2) of skin, which unprotected, medium-dark human skin would receive.
 
3 Maximum Blast Wind The speed, in miles per hour, at which the blast wave travels.
 
4 Maximum Overpressure The intensity, in pounds per square inch, of crushing overpressure.
 
5 Overpressure Arrival The time, in seconds, from detonation to reach various distances from ground zero.
 
6 Overpressure Duration The length of time, in seconds, the overpressure will be in effect.
 
7 Maximum Dynamic Pressure The drag force, in pounds per square inch on objects at or above the ground surface.
 
8 Peak Vert. Displacement The peak surface and residual vertical displacement based on a seismic velocity of 1414 fps.
 
9 Peak Horiz. Displacement The peak horizontal displacement = 1/3 of the peak vertical displacement.
 
10 Total Neutron Radiation The total dose of neutron radiation in rems. This dose is delivered within 60 seconds of detonation.
 
11 Total Fallout Gamma The total dose of gamma radiation in rems from fallout using the DELFIC model.
 
12 Total Initial Gamma The total dose of initial gamma radiation.
 
13 Fallout Arrival Time The time, in hours, it takes for fallout to arrive at various distances from ground zero with a 15-mph wind.
 
14 Fallout Radiation Doses The dose of radiation, in rems/24hr day, during various periods (week 1, week 2, month 2, etc.) following detonation which an unprotected person would receive. These doses are based on no precipitation of any kind. Rain would allow the radioactive fallout particles to leach into the soil and reduce these doses.
 
15 Crater Radius
 
16 Crater Depth
 
17 Maximum Cloud Radius
 
18 Maximum Cloud Height
 
19 Maximum Fireball Radius (FB)
 
20 Minimum Survival Distance (MSD)


Notes:
- Based on weapons which are 50/50 fission/fusion.
- Based on height of burst, optimizing weapon effects, and properly detonating.
- Based on ideal surfaces (flat terrain, no trees, clear atmosphere at sea level, with no wind, and no rain, snow, or fog.)
- Radiation doses would be reduced by half if 12 hours per day are spent in adequate shelter.
- All effects, except for fallout radiation doses, are not related to being upwind or downwind of ground zero.
- All values are rounded to the nearest whole number.
- One week equals 168 hours, one month equals four weeks or 672 hours.


ENDNOTES
1. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977, pp. These values are based on figure 12.64 on page 564 using medium skin.
 
 
2. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
3. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
4. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
5. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
6. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
7. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
8. Federal Emergency Management Agency, PROTECTIVE CONSTRUCTION NUCLEAR BLAST RESISTANT DESIGN, TR-20 (VOL. 4). Washington, D.C., March 1985, Chapter 6, pp. 6-15-6-16.
 
9. Federal Emergency Management Agency, PROTECTIVE CONSTRUCTION NUCLEAR BLAST RESISTANT DESIGN, TR-20 (VOL. 4). Washington, D.C., March 1985, Chapter 6, pp. 6-15-6-16.
 
10. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. These values were calulated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer and graphed as smooth curves to prevent errors from logarithmic increments.
 
11. These values were determined by Edward York, using the DNA Weapon Effects Rule WEG-1.pp. 257-261. Prepared for the Defense Nuclear Agency by Horizons Technology Inc. under contract DNA 001 83-C-0004.
 
12. These values were developed by Dr. Joseph McGahan of the Scientific Applications International Corporation. These values are not theoretical. They were derived from the DELFIC model, which is based on actual radioactivity measurements made on site of the nuclear surface burst tests conducted in the United States prior to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1964.
 
13. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. These values were determined based on section 9.97 on page 430 for a wind speed of 15 mph.
 
14. These values were developed by Dr. Joseph McGahan of the Scientific Applications International Corporation. These values are not theoretical. They were derived from the DELFIC model, which is based on actual radioactivity measurements made on site of the nuclear surface burst tests conducted in the United States prior to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1964.
 
15. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
16. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
17. These values were developed by Dr. Joseph McGahan of the Scientific Appliations International Corporation. They were derived from the DELFIC model which is based on measurements made on site of the nuclear surface burst tests conducted in the United States prior to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1964.
 
18. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Cloud heights based on figure 2.16 on page 34.
 
19. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Calculated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer.
 
20. U.S. Department of Defense and Energy Research and Development Administration, EFFECTS of NUCLEAR WEAPONS, Compiled by Samuel Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, Washington, D.C., 1977. Based on 200 psi and calulated on the Nuclear Bomb Effect Computer. It is possible to survive much closer; however, special materials and engineering must be used.

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