The Effects of Nuclear Weapons

At a glance..

This brochure is a comprehensive and authoritative publication on nuclear weapons effects that would be accessible to the non-technical for emergency and civil defense planning.

The details..

Written by Dr. E.E. Massey, Nuclear Weapons Effects is an essential guide to understanding the impact of nuclear explosions on human life and infrastructure in a factual yet engaging way. The book was prepared at the request of Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) to fill a gap in existing publications that were either too vague or too complicated for average readers.

The book covers various aspects of nuclear weapons effects such as air blast, ground shock, thermal radiation, radiation effects, explosion in water among others with tables containing data related to each aspect discussed.

Readers will learn about how much energy different yield sizes release from tons through kilotons to many megatons equivalent of TNT with examples given like how 20 kt bomb releases ten times as much energy as the explosion of ammunition ship Mont Blanc which all but destroyed Halifax in 1917.

While acknowledging uncertainties due to inherent difficulties making exact measurements because not all conditions can be controlled even during tests; this manual serves as a valuable resource for those engaged in emergency planning providing them with approximate data they need.