United States High-Altitude Test ExperiencesA Review Emphasizing the Impact on the Environment Download the full document (PDF) ABSTRACT The US high-altitude nuclear explosions of the 1955-1962 period are listed chronologically; dates, locations, and yields are given. The major physical phases of the interactions of the weapon outputs with the atmosphere are described, such as the formation of fweballs at the low high-altitudes and the partition of energies and their distribution over very large spaces at the higher high-altitudes. The effects of these explosions on the normal activities of populations and the protective measures taken are documented. Many scientific observations, together with their significance and values, are reviewed. The prompt thermal effects on the ground were negligible, with the exception of those from the Orange event. That event could have caused minor damage in the Johnston Island (JI) area in the absence of cloud cover. The eyeburn problem at ground zero and up to large slant distances was severe for all events except Starfish, Checkmate, and Argus. Adequate precautions, such as the selection of JI instead of Bikini as the base in the Pacific, were taken. Two military personnel suffered severe burns, however, due to inadvertent exposure. Their case histories are recorded. The degrading effects of increased ionospheric ionization on commercial and aircraft communications-mainly in the LF, MF, and HF frequency ranges — extended over the whole Pacific Ocean area. They lasted for many days after the three megaton-range explosions. They were less severe — in some cases even beneficial-for VHF and VLF frequencies, thus providing guidance for emergency situations. The formation of an artificial radiation belt of such high electron fluxes and long lifetimes as occurred after the Startlsh event was unexpected; so were the damages sustained by three satellites in orbit. However, the vast amount of knowledge gained by the observations of the artificial belts generated by Starfish, Argus, and the Russian high-altitude explosions far outweighed the information which would have been gained otherwise. A few extrapolations are made to effects on manned space flight under hypothetical circumstances. |
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