NUCLEAR BLAST EFFECTS ON A METROPOLITAN ECONOMY

Abstract

The study summarizes the work done to develop a method for measuring the nuclear blast effects on the economic resources of a single city. The method developed was applied to data describing the Houston, Texas, Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. The results were expressed in terms of weapon effects on economic output, property values, and population characteristics including the experienced labor force. The study indicates the methods used to obtain the input data required to analyze weapon effects on the economy of a large metropolitan area. The study also includes a description of the problems encountered in developing the data and the steps taken to overcome such difficulties. These data were distributed to single cells of a 65 x 65 one-kilometer square matrix which was used to measure overpressure effects on economic resources for eight weapons of yields ranging from 0.1 megaton to 100 megatons. Weapon effects on economic resources were related to effects on the population of Houston for the same simulated attack conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0631026

Entities

People

  • William C. Truppner

Organizations

  • Institute for Defense Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blast
  • Civil Defense
  • Classification
  • Construction
  • Defense Systems
  • Employment
  • Fallout Shelters
  • Grids
  • Materials
  • Materials Science
  • Overpressure
  • Physical Properties
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Security
  • Transportation
  • Urban Areas
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Nuclear Civil Defense.
  • Regression Analysis.
  • Systems Analysis and Design