Introduction to Nuclear Weapons Flashcards
What are the percentage do the various effects make up for a typical air burst?
Blast - 50%
Thermal - 35%
Residual Radiation - 10%
Initial Radiation - 5%
**Thermal Radiation Effects on People:
- Flash blindness causing permanent damage to the retina, eye protection is required because the blink reflex is too slow.
- Flash burns, 2nd degree out to 15 miles, 3rd degree out to 8 miles.
**Thermal Radiation Effects on Structures:
- Threshold ignition of light flammable material like paper out to 10 miles.
- Extensive fire damage out to 8.5 miles.
Thermal Radiation Mitigation Measures:
- Protective enclosures, thermal protective coatings, nonflammable clothing, tools, and equipment.
- For aircrew, eye protection, cockpit canopy shields and maintaining prescribed weapons delivery profiles.
**Blast Effect on People:
- Collapse lungs, rupture ear drums, smash into objects.
**Blast Effects on Structures and Equipment:
- 1 MT detonation can collapse concrete buildings out to 5 miles and wood-frame buildings out to 8 miles.
- Equipment damaged by being blown over and displaced over large distances.
Blast Effects Mitigation Measures:
- Exposed persons should fall to the ground immediately and remain there until the blast negative phase has passed.
- Harden structures and/or bury them underground.
Initial Radiation - Gamma Rays and Neutron Radiation from Fission Events (Energetic X-Rays) EFFECTS:
- *Little can be done to protect exposed personnel against initial radiation because the radiation is emitted and absorbed in less than one minute.
- Very penetrating, very lethal, will cause the majority of radiation casualties in the long term.
Initial Radiation - Gamma Rays and Neutron Radiation from Fission Events (Energetic X-Rays) MITIGATION:
- *Be outside the initial radiation lethal radius, 50% death rate at 2.6 miles for 1 MT detonation.
- Reduce effects by using DoD-developed drug (iodine).
Residual Radiation - Alpha Particle Effects:
- *Cannot penetrate skin.
- Bad if ingested.
Residual Radiation - Beta Particle Effects:
- *Stopped by clothing.
- Bad if ingested.
Residual Radiation - Gamma Radiation Effects:
- Can last years after a nuclear detonation.
- *Very penetrating, very lethal, will cause majority of the radiation casualties in the long term.
Residual Radiation Mitigation Measures:
- Personal protection equipment, time, distance and shielding:
- Radiation detection equipment to assess / avoid high levels of radiation (gamma rays).
- *Personal protection equipment will not stop gamma rays, but will stop fallout particles - alpha and beta particles.
- Minimize exposure time and remain at a safe distance.
- Utilize shielding when possible.
What Sets the Minimum Damage Radii?
Blast and thermal radiation set the safe distance for personnel.
(Thermal has largest radius, radiation smallest)
**Enhancing Nuclear Weapons Effects - Airburst:
Fireball does not touch the ground.
- Blast, thermal, radiation, EMP all present.
- *Blast and thermal enhanced, residual radiation reduced.
