Smoke production from multiple nuclear explosions in nonurban areas

Journal Article · Fri Aug 02 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.229.4712.465· OSTI ID:5969285

Small, R D; Bush, B W

The amount of smoke that may be produced by wildland or rural fires as a consequence of a large-scale nuclear exchange is estimated. The calculation is based on a compilation of rural military facilities, identified from a wide variety of unclassified sources, together with data on their geographic positions, surrounding vegetation (fuel), and weather conditions. The ignition area (corrected for fuel moisture) and the amount of fire spread are used to calculate the smoke production. The results show a substantially lower estimated smoke production (from wildland fires) than in earlier nuclear winter studies. The amount varies seasonally and at its peak is less by an order of magnitude than the estimated threshold level necessary for a major attenuation of solar radiation. 32 references, 6 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Pacific-Sierra Research Corp., Los Angeles, CA
• OSTI ID: 5969285
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 229; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450201* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives-- Containment
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
COMBUSTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENT
EXPLOSIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
ORIGIN
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
RESIDUES
RURAL AREAS
SIMULATION
SMOKES
SOLS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES