ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. VOLUME ONE

Abstract

Volume 1 summarizes current knowledge of the effects of nuclear weapons on area targets. Radiological effects are divided roughly into three categories: external gamma-radiation from fallout fields; external beta-burns and internal hazards due to cycling of Sr-90, Cs-137 and I-131. Vulnerabilities of different classes of targets or 'biomes' are considered, e.g. vertebrates, insects, conifer forests, deciduous forests, grasslands and crop lands. Thermal ignition and probabilities of fire spread under various conditions are discussed in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is concerned with potential meteorological and climatic problems. Chapter 4 discusses a variety of 'second-order' problems such as epidemics, pest outbreaks, floods, erosion and ecological changes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0632279

Entities

People

  • Robert U. Ayres

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Birds
  • Cells
  • Fungi
  • Geography
  • Habitats
  • Health Services
  • Lepidoptera
  • Medical Personnel

Readers

  • Business Analytics
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Wetland-Land-Environmental Management.