Defense atomic support agency when the effects of atomic weapons was published in 1950, the explosive energy yields of the fission bombs available at that time were equivalent to some thousands of tons. Apart from the difficulties in making measurements of weapons effects, the results are often dependent upon circum stances which could not be predicted in the event of a nuclear attack. The prompt effects of a nuclear explosion and fallout are well known through data gathered from the attacks on hiroshima and nagasaki, japan. Nuclear weapons represent the most serious terrorist threat. A tutorial on the effects of nuclear weapons 19 psi of simple overpressure, the winds associated with as little as 2 to 3 psi could be expected to blow people out of typical modern office buildings. Impact of nuclear weapons on international relations.
Terrorist threat purpose nuclear weapons vs radioactive dispersal device rdd or dirty bomb remaining discussion nuclear weapons types nuclear weapons types, cont. See especially the section science and subsection effects of nuclear weapons, the nuclear weapon archive current host is the membrane domain as of march 2007. Effects of nuclear weapons compiled and edited by samuel glasstone and philip j. Dolan third edition prepared and published by the united states department of defense. The nuclear war survival skills is a public domain text and is an excellent source on how to survive a nuclear attack. This is somewhat better than nothing, but not by much. Furthermore, two weapons of different design may have the same explosive energy yield, but the effects could be markedly different.
Weapons detonations, national academy of sciences, washington, dc 1975. A nuclear weapon is a explosive device that uses a controlled uncontrolled nuclear chain reacon to release huge amounts of energy. Effects of nuclear weapons alexander glaser wws556d princeton university february 12, 2007 s. In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content the political nuclear striking characteristic of the effects o f weapons a comment i robert jervis i perhaps the most postwar world is just thatit can be called postwar because the major powers have not fought each other since 1945. This is a circular slide rule that calculates effects, normally issued with the government edition. Effects of nuclear weapons alexander glaser wws556d princeton university february 12, 2007 nder gla wws eton unive bruary 12, alexan princ feb s. Then there are the risks of nonstate terrorist groups getting their hands on illsecured nuclear weapons or dangerous nuclear material. The prompt effects of a nuclear explosion and fallout are well known through data gathered from the attacks on. Descriptions of nuclear explosions description of underwater bursts shallow underwater explosion phenomena. A tutorial on the effects of nuclear weapons 17 away. Dolan, was the effects of nuclear weapons, which came out in three editions between 1950 and 1977 originally titled the effects of atomic weapons.
The effects of nuclear weapons compiled and edited by samuel glasstone and philip j. The intensity of public debate on issues involving nuclear weapons and strategic policy is currently at an all. The effects of nuclear weapons the effects of nuclear weapons on humans the effects of nuclear weapons on environment the impact of nuclear weapons pdf 10 points impact of nuclear weapons how to build a nuclear bomb. The 1977 third edition the most recent version of this publication was scanned by the program in science and global security of the woodrow wilson school of public and international affairs at princeton university into a collection of bitmap pdf files which were linked to a web page. Such a lengthy period of peace among the most powerful states is unprece. In most cases, the energy released from a nuclear weapon detonated within the lower atmosphere can be approximately divided into four basic categories the blast itself. Perhaps his best known book, coauthored with philip j. Dolan, was the effects of nuclear weapons, which came out in three editions between 1950 and 1977 originally titled the. Weapons detonations, national research council, 2101 constitution avenue, washington dc 20418. At the same place, there would be a wind of 160 mph 255 km. A study of base surge phenomenology, kaman science corporation, november 5, 1986. While other books on the subject give you pasteurized and digested view of the topic, this one presents the theory and studies that drive our conclusions about the effects of nuclear weapons. A nuclear weapon also called an atom bomb, nuke, atomic bomb, nuclear warhead, abomb, or nuclear bomb is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission fission bomb or from a combination of fission and fusion reactions thermonuclear bomb. Samuel glasstone editor, the effects of nuclear weapons, u.
Since the last version of the effects of nuclear weapons was prepared, much. Although the issues are largely political, they cannot be addressed without some knowledge of the properties of nuclear weapons and of the destruction that their use could bring about it is our particular responsibility as technically. The results are often and a conventional explosion, including dependent on circumstances which are the tremendously greater power of the difficult, if not impossible, to control, former, that the effects of nuclear even in a test and certainly cannot be. Nuclear weapons make use of one or two forms of interacons between atoms.
Headquarters, defense nuclear agency defense civil preparedness agency armed forces radiobiology research institute. I read it in high school, and never regretted the time. Thermal effects approximately 35 percent of the energy from a nuclear explosion is an intense burst of thermal radiation, i. The political effects of robert jervis nuclear weapons a comment perhaps the most striking characteristic of the postwar world is just thatit can be called postwar because the major powers have not fought each other since 1945. This has come in part from the series of atmospheric tests, including several at very high altitudes, conducted in the pacific ocean area in 1962. This is generally considered the definitive work on the subject. Over the next 27 years, it underwent 4 updates, as technology and science of both weapon design and weapon effects were better understood. Pdf the effects of nuclear weapons compiled and edited. Nuclear weapon nuclear weapon the effects of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapon the effects of nuclear weapons britannica. Since the last version of the effects of nuclear weapons was prepared, much new information has become available concerning nuclear weapons effects.
Pdf the effects of nuclear weapons compiled and edited by. Dolan the effects of nuclear weapons, third edition u. Anxiety was found to be a factor in criminal behavior, and threat of nuclear war to be a factor in anxiety. Project muse the political effects of nuclear weapons. Effects of nuclear weapons, third edition open pdf 40 mb since the last version of the effects of nuclear weapons was prepared, much new information. The health effects resulting from attacks with conventional weapons on nuclear weapon storage facilities depend on the detailed design of the nuclear weapons being attacked. Fireball radius is based on a scaling law from the effects of nuclear weapons 1977, chapter iic, fireball radius scales with y0. The 1977 edition of the effects of nuclear weapons omitted the fire prevention evidence and photographs from the 1953 upshotknothole encore test which was included in the 1957 and 19624 editions, leading to the myth of nuclear winter due to firestorm mythology in 1983.
The basics of nuclear weapons federation of american. Nuclear weaponsscience tracer bulletlibrary of congress. The effects nuclear weapons ucsb experimental cosmology group. Prepared and published by the united states department of defense and the energy research and development administration. The effects of nuclear weapons glasstone, samuel on. The most recent surveys have identified populations which are particularly vulnerable. Types of weapons energy release types of detonation historical information effects nuclear weapons vs radioactive dispersal device rdd or dirty bomb nuclear weapons use conventional explosives to create supercritical mass of fissionable nuclear material supercritical mass is capable of selfsustaining, prompt. With the development of thermonuclear fusion weapons, having energy yields in the range of millions of tons i. Koppe, use of nuclear weapons and protection of the environment during international armed conflict, in g. The effects of nuclear weapons, compiled and edited by samuel glasstone and philip j. The 1977 third edition the most recent version of this publication was scanned by the program in science and global security of the woodrow wilson school of public and international affairs at princeton university into a collection of bitmap pdf files which were linked to a web page on their site which served as an index.
The 3rd edition 1977 is the last to discuss cobalt bombs, radiological weapons and doomsday devices. The effects nuclear weapons international panel on fissile. The effects of a nuclear explosion on its immediate vicinity are typically much more destructive and multifaceted than those caused by conventional explosives. Since the last version of \the effects of nuclear weapons \ was prepared, much new information has become available concerning nuclear weapons effects. Effects of a nuclear explosion sequence of events, part iii air blast shock wave after 10 seconds of 1 mt explosion. Chapter 9 nuclear survivability and effects testing 141 overview nuclear survivability is the ability of personnel, equipment, and systems to survive the effects of nuclear weapons. Systematic studies are emerging on the prevailing harmful psychological effect of the threat of nuclear war. Nuclear weapons are fundamentally different from conventional weapons because of the vast amounts of explosive energy they can release and the kinds of effects they produce, such as high temperatures and radiation. Since the last edition of the effects of nuclear weapons in 1962 much new information. The sections of this chapter addressing fallout are an amalgam of information from the following. Effects of nuclear weapons, third edition open pdf 40 mb since the last version of the effects of nuclear weapons was prepared, much new information has become available concerning nuclear weapons effects.
Thermal effects are mainly due to originated heat from blast which expands with wind velocity and incinerates everything within expansion radius. If you find any file problems, please use the contact me or help desk links above. There is great concern that nuclear weapons might be acquired and used by terrorist groups or that these groups may be able to build nuclear weapons from fissile materials acquired from existing nuclear weapons states. The emergence of nuclear weapons has been a source of a big impact on the international power structure. The federation of american scientists provide solid information on weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons and their effects. The book, effects of nuclear weapons, was first published in 1950, with the title effects of atomic weapons. Many technical and some political aspects of these fourthgeneration nuclear weapons fgnw have been discussed in earlier reports 1, 2. Because the design details of enemy nuclear weapons are unknown and could not be discussed in this document in any case, the committee cannot provide quantitative estimates. Preparation of this revision of the effects of nuclear weapons was made possible by the assistance and cooperation of members of the organizations listed below.
The effects of nuclear weapons 1977 full pdf at dtic. Dolan third edition prepared and published by the united states department of defense and the energy research and development administration. Most blast deaths result from the collapse of occupied buildings, from peo. Read effects of nuclear earthpenetrator and other weapons. Both bomb types release large quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. A javascript simulation of the effects of a nuclear explosion in a city. The 1977 edition and perhaps others comes with the nuclear bomb effects computer attached to the back covera stack of rotating paper disks for. A completely revised edition was published in 1962 and this was reprinted with a few changes early in 1964. When the effects of atomic weapons was published in 1950, the explosive energy yields of the fission bombs available at that time were equivalent to some thousands of tons i. Although the possible use of nuclear weapons is primarily discussed in the light of international humanitarian law ihl, and their possession under disarmament and arms control law, there is no. The effects of nuclear weapons by glasstone abebooks.