Nuclear bombs not only have devastating effects on the ground but also propel deadly radioactive dust high into the atmosphere, reaching tens of kilometers.
According to the American Federation of Scientists, the United States possesses approximately 5,500 nuclear weapons, while Russia has around 6,000. “Modern weapons are 20 to 30 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If the U.S. and Russia were to detonate everything they have, it could be a civilization-ending event,” Drozdenko added.
When a nuclear bomb detonates, it creates a blinding flash, a massive orange fireball, and shockwaves that radiate outward. Those at ground zero (within half a mile of a 300-kiloton bomb) could be killed instantly, while nearby individuals may suffer third-degree burns.
According to an estimate from AsapScience, a 1,000-kiloton nuclear explosion could cause third-degree burns up to 5 kilometers away, second-degree burns up to 6 kilometers, and first-degree burns as far as 7 kilometers. Even individuals located 85 kilometers away could experience temporary blindness.
Simulation of a nuclear bomb explosion in a major city. (Photo: Business Insider)
The nuclear explosion also generates clouds of dust and radioactive particles, similar to sand, that disperse into the atmosphere—referred to as nuclear fallout. Exposure to this dust can lead to radiation poisoning, damaging the body’s cells and potentially causing death.
The dust clouds can block sunlight, causing a sudden drop in temperature and shortening the growing season for essential crops. Drozdenko noted that crop yields could decline significantly for decades, leading to famine in many areas.
If a 300-kiloton nuclear weapon were to strike a city the size of Washington D.C., many residents would not survive. Those nearby would also face severe injuries.
“A lethal dose of radiation would cover most of the city and extend slightly into Virginia. The thermal radiation, the heat, would reach parts of Maryland, and a bit further into Virginia, affecting all individuals in that area with third-degree burns,” Drozdenko stated.
Experts estimate that a single nuclear bomb could kill around 300,000 people in the Washington area and injure many others. Depending on the number of bombs dropped and the explosive yield of the detonations, the death toll could reach into the millions.
“The larger the weapon, the greater the radius of destruction“, Drozdenko added. The explosive yield of a nuclear bomb also depends on how it is detonated.
If the weapon strikes land, the explosion will generate more radioactive dust due to dirt and other materials being thrust into the atmosphere. However, if a country detonates the bomb in mid-air, the shockwaves that reach the ground will bounce off and amplify each other, resulting in much greater destruction. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “an aerial explosion” could also propel radioactive material up to 80 kilometers into the atmosphere.
Countries rely on simulations and weapon testing to predict these effects, but it is challenging to know how a modern nuclear attack would unfold in reality.
“There is no historical precedent for this,” Drozdenko added: “The only time nuclear weapons have been used in conflict was during World War II.”
