NUCLEAR BURSTS  

Nuclear bursts produce clouds that contain radioactive matter. This matter eventually returns to Earths surface as RADFO. The height to which these clouds rise is dependent principally upon the yield of the nuclear weapon, and the type of burst.

Weapon yield determines the energy released in a nuclear blast and the height to which radio-active material will ascend into the atmosphere. For example, if a 1-kiloton (kt) nuclear burst occurs at or near the surface, the nuclear cloud that forms will rise to a height of approximately 3,800 meters, or 12,500 feet. A 1-kt nuclear burst is equal to an explosion of 1,000 tons of TNT. Nuclear bursts are divided into seven yield (pre-selected) groups for use with certain RADFO messages and computations. The weapon yield breakdown is as follows:

There are four types of nuclear bursts: high-air, low-air, surface, and subsurface.  

HIGH-AIR BURST. A high-air burst does NOT damage targets or cause casualties on the surface. Neither induced-radiation nor fallout are of tactical significance there. High-air bursts are designed to disrupt communications.

LOW-AIR BURST. A low-air burst pro-duces damage or casualties at the surface; however, the burst is at such a height as to produce minimal fallout. In a low-air burst, only neutron radiation occurs. Neutron-induced radiation is relatively limited in area, and changes in tactics can normally be made to ensure that it does not grossly interfere with operations.

SURFACE BURST. Both neutron-induced radiation and fallout result from a surface or near-surface burst. The fallout pattern usually overlaps and overshadows the entire induced-radiation pattern. RADFO messages are based on a surface or near-surface burst.

SUBSURFACE BURST. A subsurface burst produces both induced radiation and fallout on the ground.

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