Environmental effects of nuclear war

Conference · Thu Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1988 · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6328893

MacCracken, M C

Substantial environmental disruption will significantly add to the disastrous consequences caused by the direct thermal, blast, and radiological effects brought on by a major nuclear war. Local fallout could cover several per cent of the Northern Hemisphere with potentially lethal doses. Smoke from post-nuclear fires could darken the skies and induce temperature decreases of tens of degrees in continental interiors. Stratospheric ozone could be significantly reduced due to nitric oxide injections and smoke-induced circulation changes. The environmental effects spread the consequences of a nuclear war to the world population, adding to the potentially large disruptive effects a further reason to avoid such a catastrophe.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
• OSTI ID: 6328893
• Report Number(s): CONF-8804202-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 178:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
500400 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPLOSIONS
FALLOUT
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
ISOTOPES
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
POLLUTION
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
WARFARE
WEAPONS