Nuclear weapons effects: Some data

Nuclear Weapons Effects: Some data

by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 23 June 2002

Table 1: Effects summary

slant ranges from airbursts

yield blast
50% fatal flash
50% fatal prompt radiation
50% fatal

(kt) (km) (km) (km)

0.01 0.15 0.074 0.30

0.1 0.32 0.22 0.54

0.3 0.46 0.37 0.70

1 0.69 0.64 0.87

3 1.0 1.0 1.0

10 1.5 1.7 1.2

20 1.9 2.2 1.4

50 2.5 3.0 1.6

100 3.2 3.9 1.7

200 4.0 4.9 1.8

500 5.5 6.4 2.0

1000 6.9 7.8 2.1

3000 10 10 2.3

20000 19 15 2.8

150000 37 22 3.2

yield	blast 50% fatal	flash 50% fatal	prompt radiation 50% fatal
(kt)	(km)	(km)	(km)
0.01	0.15	0.074	0.30
0.1	0.32	0.22	0.54
0.3	0.46	0.37	0.70
1	0.69	0.64	0.87
3	1.0	1.0	1.0
10	1.5	1.7	1.2
20	1.9	2.2	1.4
50	2.5	3.0	1.6
100	3.2	3.9	1.7
200	4.0	4.9	1.8
500	5.5	6.4	2.0
1000	6.9	7.8	2.1
3000	10	10	2.3
20000	19	15	2.8
150000	37	22	3.2

Table 2: Shock effects

yield crater diameter
in dry soil for
surface burst range of 3-m tsunami
from shallow
underwater explosion altitude to maximize
radius of 10-psi
overpressure

(kt) (m) (km) (m)

0.01 9 0.023 46

0.1 19 0.080 100

0.3 26 0.15 140

1 37 0.28 210

3 52 0.52 310

10 74 1.0 460

20 91 1.5 580

50 120 2.5 790

100 150 3.6 1000

200 180 5.3 1200

500 240 8.7 1700

1000 300 13 2100

3000 410 23 3100

20000 730 66 5800

150000 1300 200 11300

yield	crater diameter in dry soil for surface burst	range of 3-m tsunami from shallow underwater explosion	altitude to maximize radius of 10-psi overpressure
(kt)	(m)	(km)	(m)
0.01	9	0.023	46
0.1	19	0.080	100
0.3	26	0.15	140
1	37	0.28	210
3	52	0.52	310
10	74	1.0	460
20	91	1.5	580
50	120	2.5	790
100	150	3.6	1000
200	180	5.3	1200
500	240	8.7	1700
1000	300	13	2100
3000	410	23	3100
20000	730	66	5800
150000	1300	200	11300

Table 3: Blast effects

for airburst at altitude to maximize radius of 10-psi overpressure (see Table 2)

yield 20 psi overpressure,
severe damage 5 psi overpressure,
50% fatalities 1 psi overpressure,
some injuries

slant range GZ range arrival time slant range GZ range arrival time slant range GZ range arrival time

(kt) (km) (km) (s) (km) (km) (s) (km) (km) (s)

0.01 0.070 0.053 0.084 0.15 0.14 0.30 0.38 0.37 1.0

0.1 0.15 0.11 0.18 0.32 0.30 0.64 0.81 0.81 2.1

0.3 0.22 0.16 0.26 0.46 0.44 0.92 1.2 1.2 3.0

1 0.32 0.24 0.39 0.69 0.66 1.4 1.8 1.7 4.6

3 0.47 0.35 0.56 1.0 0.95 2.0 2.5 2.5 6.6

10 0.70 0.53 0.84 1.5 1.4 3.0 3.8 3.7 10

20 0.88 0.66 1.1 1.9 1.8 3.7 4.8 4.7 12

50 1.2 0.90 1.4 2.5 2.4 5.1 6.4 6.4 17

100 1.5 1.1 1.8 3.2 3.0 6.4 8.1 8.1 21

200 1.9 1.4 2.3 4.0 3.8 8.1 10 10 27

500 2.6 1.9 3.1 5.5 5.2 11 14 14 36

1000 3.2 2.4 3.9 6.9 6.6 14 18 17 46

3000 4.7 3.5 5.6 10 9.5 20 25 25 66

20000 8.8 6.6 11 19 18 37 48 47 120

150000 17 13 21 37 35 73 93 92 240

yield	20 psi overpressure, severe damage	5 psi overpressure, 50% fatalities	1 psi overpressure, some injuries
slant range	GZ range	arrival time	slant range	GZ range	arrival time	slant range	GZ range	arrival time
(kt)	(km)	(km)	(s)	(km)	(km)	(s)	(km)	(km)	(s)
0.01	0.070	0.053	0.084	0.15	0.14	0.30	0.38	0.37	1.0
0.1	0.15	0.11	0.18	0.32	0.30	0.64	0.81	0.81	2.1
0.3	0.22	0.16	0.26	0.46	0.44	0.92	1.2	1.2	3.0
1	0.32	0.24	0.39	0.69	0.66	1.4	1.8	1.7	4.6
3	0.47	0.35	0.56	1.0	0.95	2.0	2.5	2.5	6.6
10	0.70	0.53	0.84	1.5	1.4	3.0	3.8	3.7	10
20	0.88	0.66	1.1	1.9	1.8	3.7	4.8	4.7	12
50	1.2	0.90	1.4	2.5	2.4	5.1	6.4	6.4	17
100	1.5	1.1	1.8	3.2	3.0	6.4	8.1	8.1	21
200	1.9	1.4	2.3	4.0	3.8	8.1	10	10	27
500	2.6	1.9	3.1	5.5	5.2	11	14	14	36
1000	3.2	2.4	3.9	6.9	6.6	14	18	17	46
3000	4.7	3.5	5.6	10	9.5	20	25	25	66
20000	8.8	6.6	11	19	18	37	48	47	120
150000	17	13	21	37	35	73	93	92	240

Table 4: Thermal flash effects, 20 km visibility

20 km visibility, for airburst at altitude to maximize radius of 10-psi overpressure (see Table 2)

yield time to
maximum thermal
intensity time for 80%
of thermal
release ignition of cardboard/wood 50% third degree burns 50% first degree burns

slant range GZ range slant range GZ range slant range GZ range

(kt) (s) (s) (km) (km) (km) (km) (km) (km)

0.01 0.005 0.03 0.045 N/A 0.074 0.058 0.13 0.12

0.1 0.015 0.08 0.14 0.10 0.22 0.20 0.39 0.38

0.3 0.025 0.13 0.23 0.18 0.37 0.34 0.64 0.62

1 0.042 0.22 0.41 0.35 0.64 0.60 1.1 1.1

3 0.068 0.35 0.69 0.62 1.0 0.97 1.7 1.7

10 0.12 0.60 1.2 1.1 1.7 1.6 2.6 2.6

20 0.16 0.81 1.6 1.5 2.2 2.1 3.4 3.4

50 0.23 1.2 2.3 2.2 3.0 2.9 4.6 4.5

100 0.32 1.6 3.0 2.8 3.9 3.7 5.6 5.5

200 0.43 2.2 3.8 3.6 4.9 4.7 6.9 6.8

500 0.64 3.3 5.1 4.8 6.4 6.2 8.8 8.6

1000 0.87 4.5 6.3 5.9 7.8 7.5 10 10

3000 1.4 7.4 7.7 7.0 10 9.7 13 13

20000 3.3 17 12 10 15 14 19 18

150000 7.9 41 17 13 22 18 25 23

yield	time to maximum thermal intensity	time for 80% of thermal release	ignition of cardboard/wood	50% third degree burns	50% first degree burns
slant range	GZ range	slant range	GZ range	slant range	GZ range
(kt)	(s)	(s)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)
0.01	0.005	0.03	0.045	N/A	0.074	0.058	0.13	0.12
0.1	0.015	0.08	0.14	0.10	0.22	0.20	0.39	0.38
0.3	0.025	0.13	0.23	0.18	0.37	0.34	0.64	0.62
1	0.042	0.22	0.41	0.35	0.64	0.60	1.1	1.1
3	0.068	0.35	0.69	0.62	1.0	0.97	1.7	1.7
10	0.12	0.60	1.2	1.1	1.7	1.6	2.6	2.6
20	0.16	0.81	1.6	1.5	2.2	2.1	3.4	3.4
50	0.23	1.2	2.3	2.2	3.0	2.9	4.6	4.5
100	0.32	1.6	3.0	2.8	3.9	3.7	5.6	5.5
200	0.43	2.2	3.8	3.6	4.9	4.7	6.9	6.8
500	0.64	3.3	5.1	4.8	6.4	6.2	8.8	8.6
1000	0.87	4.5	6.3	5.9	7.8	7.5	10	10
3000	1.4	7.4	7.7	7.0	10	9.7	13	13
20000	3.3	17	12	10	15	14	19	18
150000	7.9	41	17	13	22	18	25	23

Table 5: Thermal flash effects, 80 km visibility

for airburst at altitude to maximize radius of 10-psi overpressure (see Table 2)

yield ignition of cardboard/wood 50% third degree burns 50% first degree burns

slant range GZ range slant range GZ range slant range GZ range

(kt) (km) (km) (km) (km) (km) (km)

0.01 0.045 N/A 0.075 0.06 0.13 0.12

0.1 0.14 0.10 0.22 0.20 0.40 0.39

0.3 0.24 0.19 0.38 0.35 0.67 0.66

1 0.43 0.38 0.68 0.64 1.2 1.2

3 0.73 0.66 1.1 1.1 1.9 1.9

10 1.3 1.2 1.9 1.8 3.3 3.3

20 1.8 1.7 2.6 2.5 4.4 4.4

50 2.8 2.6 3.9 3.8 6.5 6.5

100 3.8 3.6 5.3 5.2 8.7 8.6

200 5.1 5.0 7.1 7.0 12 12

500 7.6 7.4 10 10 17 16

1000 10 10 14 14 21 21

3000 14 13 21 21 31 31

20000 26 25 39 39 54 54

150000 46 45 67 66 86 85

yield	ignition of cardboard/wood	50% third degree burns	50% first degree burns
slant range	GZ range	slant range	GZ range	slant range	GZ range
(kt)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)
0.01	0.045	N/A	0.075	0.06	0.13	0.12
0.1	0.14	0.10	0.22	0.20	0.40	0.39
0.3	0.24	0.19	0.38	0.35	0.67	0.66
1	0.43	0.38	0.68	0.64	1.2	1.2
3	0.73	0.66	1.1	1.1	1.9	1.9
10	1.3	1.2	1.9	1.8	3.3	3.3
20	1.8	1.7	2.6	2.5	4.4	4.4
50	2.8	2.6	3.9	3.8	6.5	6.5
100	3.8	3.6	5.3	5.2	8.7	8.6
200	5.1	5.0	7.1	7.0	12	12
500	7.6	7.4	10	10	17	16
1000	10	10	14	14	21	21
3000	14	13	21	21	31	31
20000	26	25	39	39	54	54
150000	46	45	67	66	86	85

Table 6: Prompt radiation effects

for airburst at altitude to maximize radius of 10-psi overpressure (see Table 2)

yield assumed fission
yield fraction 1500 rad prompt radiation,
100% fatal 450 rad prompt radiation,
50% fatal 100 rad prompt radiation,
some radiation sickness

slant range GZ range slant range GZ range slant range GZ range

(kt) (%) (km) (km) (km) (km) (km) (km)

0.01 100 0.20 0.19 0.30 0.30 0.44 0.44

0.1 100 0.38 0.37 0.54 0.53 0.75 0.74

0.3 100 0.53 0.51 0.70 0.69 0.91 0.90

1 100 0.70 0.67 0.87 0.84 1.1 1.1

3 100 0.85 0.79 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.3

10 100 1.0 0.93 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.5

20 100 1.2 1.0 1.4 1.2 1.7 1.6

50 100 1.3 1.1 1.6 1.3 1.9 1.7

100 100 1.4 1.1 1.7 1.4 2.0 1.8

200 85 1.6 1.0 1.8 1.4 2.2 1.8

500 75 1.7 0.26 2.0 1.0 2.3 1.6

1000 50 1.8 N/A 2.1 N/A 2.5 1.2

3000 50 2.0 N/A 2.3 N/A 2.7 N/A

20000 50 2.5 N/A 2.8 N/A 3.1 N/A

150000 50 3.0 N/A 3.2 N/A 3.7 N/A

yield	assumed fission yield fraction	1500 rad prompt radiation, 100% fatal		450 rad prompt radiation, 50% fatal		100 rad prompt radiation, some radiation sickness
yield	assumed fission yield fraction	slant range	GZ range	slant range	GZ range	slant range	GZ range
(kt)	(%)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)	(km)
0.01	100	0.20	0.19	0.30	0.30	0.44	0.44
0.1	100	0.38	0.37	0.54	0.53	0.75	0.74
0.3	100	0.53	0.51	0.70	0.69	0.91	0.90
1	100	0.70	0.67	0.87	0.84	1.1	1.1
3	100	0.85	0.79	1.0	1.0	1.3	1.3
10	100	1.0	0.93	1.2	1.2	1.5	1.5
20	100	1.2	1.0	1.4	1.2	1.7	1.6
50	100	1.3	1.1	1.6	1.3	1.9	1.7
100	100	1.4	1.1	1.7	1.4	2.0	1.8
200	85	1.6	1.0	1.8	1.4	2.2	1.8
500	75	1.7	0.26	2.0	1.0	2.3	1.6
1000	50	1.8	N/A	2.1	N/A	2.5	1.2
3000	50	2.0	N/A	2.3	N/A	2.7	N/A
20000	50	2.5	N/A	2.8	N/A	3.1	N/A
150000	50	3.0	N/A	3.2	N/A	3.7	N/A