Implications of the 'Nuclear Winter' Thesis.

Abstract

This report assesses the potential policy implications of new findings concerning the long-term atmospheric, climatic and biological effects of nuclear war, commonly referred to as nuclear winter. A summary of the prominent study of these effects, The Global Atmospheric Consequences of Nuclear War by Turco, Toon, Ackerman, Pollack and Sagan (TTAPS) is provided. Potential policy implications are examined regarding nuclear weapons strategy and deterrence, extended deterrence, targeting, C3I and damage assessment, future R&D and force modernization, strategic defense systems, arms control, civil defense and the strategic implications of U.S. and Soviet perceptions of nuclear winter. Issues and questions for further research are addressed. Keywords: Nuclear Weapons Effects; Climatic Effects of Nuclear War; Deterrence; Targeting; Nuclear Strategy; U.S.-Soviet Relations; and U.S. Security.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 24, 1985
Accession Number
ADA166034

Entities

People

  • Banning N. Garrett
  • Bonnie S. Glasner
  • Carl B. Feldbaum
  • Ronald J. Bee

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Civil Defense
  • Databases
  • Defense Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Explosives
  • Governments
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Warfare
  • Strategic Defense Initiative
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security