Climate shocks: natural and anthropogenic

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6493910

Kondrat'ev, K I

The impact of multiple nuclear explosions in the earth atmosphere on global climate is explored, summarizing the results of recent theoretical modeling studies. Two natural analogs, the greenhouse effect and a major volcanic explosion, are analyzed; and particular attention is then given to data on the climatic effects of previous atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons, numerical models of these effects, and the effect of the Tunguska meteor fall of 1908 on the ozone layer and climate. It is concluded that, although the current models contain many uncertainties, multiple nuclear explosions would doubtless produce catastrophic changes, much more serious than those which would result from a doubling of the present CO/sub 2/ content. Strong temporal and spatial variabilities of climate would exclude normal life or industrial activity on the planet. 110 references.

• OSTI ID: 6493910
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640202* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Effects of Nuclear Detonations
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AEROSOLS
ATMOSPHERIC EXPLOSIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPLOSIONS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTITY RATIO
SOLS
VARIATIONS
VOLCANOES
WEAPONS