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\j_ © WEATHER
on earth owing to the
‘..2a (¢) w reduction of solar energy received
“lent of Krakatoa. 7
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7
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Fr
““¥ Following large nuclear detonations in the ['acific minor and;
_. temporary weatherchanges have been obsers«u, auch as local,
;eloud formation sometimes with local precipitation,where.
.
“the moisture conditions in the atmosphere are siost fayorabie;
forthis effect,
which is directly added to the atmosphere is adde:
in a rather inefficient manner from the standpoint
of affecting the weather. Meteorologists and others
acquainted with the problem are readily willing to
dismiss the possibility that the energy released by
the explosions can have any important direct effect
.
2, ,,.The debris which has been thrown up into
the atmosphere by past detonations was found to he
ineffective as a cloud-seeding agent...”
$.“.,, The ameunt of lonization produced by the
radioactive material is insignificant in affecting general
atmospheric conditions, . .”
4.".,, Dust thrown into the air by past volcano
eruptions decreased the direct solar radiation received
at the ground by as uch as 10-20 percent, The
contamination of the atmosphere by past nuclear tests
any messuruble decrease in the
sunlight received at the earth's
a possibility that a series of exfor the maximum efficiency in
throwing debris into the upper atmos shere smiigghit
sienificantly affect the radiation recelved at the
ground...’
The volume of material ejected by Krakatoa voleanic eruption
in 1843 was approximately 13 cubie miles with an ertimeted
one-third of the volume being spread worldwide.” ‘This re
sulted in a diminution of the amount of sunlight received on the
ground.”
i
3
*s, : \t'The most inclusive evaluative statements
< peferences 31 and, -
. weather processes. Moreover,it is known that much
of this energy js expended in ways that cannot directly
affect the atmosphere. Even the fraction of the energy
26
.
’
a
LE
| ‘wag caused by compression, itin estimated that newelbe
possible effects are best presented in reference:”
ex1%. .The energy of even a thermonuclear
plosion is small when compared to most large-scale
produced
of direct
There is
designed
+tf
°
fs
+.
23”. Tmillion tons TNT equivalent ofpurface detonutions would be
“required fo eject ap amountof dugt into the atmosphereequi
ve
ne ve-;
s of these
The conclvsions of many studies and experiment
has not
amount
surface.
plosiona
ae
3
ae
.
es
"sdthe Pacific left a crater of about one mile in diameter and;
"170 feet deep at ita apex. Assuming consi rvalively that.
‘the crater was a right angle cone and that all of the debris’.
awasithrown into the atmospherg,i.e.. none cf the depression:
phere.
‘quantity of dust thrown into the atmos
on the weather processes...”
Be.
hoe
tas a crude compariaon, the 10.4 million tons |'NTequivalent:{
. nuclear detonation on October 31, 1062 on the islind of Elugelab:
|
ge in the electrical conductivi
_ is hiedide crystals), (b) a chan
charged particles, and
* =<"the air since radioactive debris contains
cee
i
wage
cae
t effects becau
3. weather fall into two classes; one, direc
s. The latter effects
Lenergy released, and two, triggering effect
particles thrown into
the
from
effect
ytic
catal
a
(a)
_-Sccmilght be
seeding with silver
'. gl the atmosphere (somothing akin to cloud
ty of
The Dete
*
rs
a
ae
ve
oe
3" Beckgreund Information’
s on the
ation
deton
ar
nucle
of
s
effect
ble
2). Interest in the possi
se of the
a ,
“a
Wet
ee
‘
+
an€
As
aM a nce
i Rye
mide are fqund in
of
41
aE o* +). No statistically significant chunges insthe
«
Seenave been found, yet careful physical aialveis of'yne
|
Aa weather during the first ten: years of the stomic:
F
‘Saeffects of nuclear explosions on the atmosphere must.)
Phe be made if we are to obtain a definite evaluation ofthis
* problem, Although it is not possible to prove thot
wy:
. :
7
‘d
fc nuclear explosions have or have not intluancedsthe
2, weather, it
t
: ray likely
e#
js believed that auch au cNeet de unr
A (1966).
.
:
i
3
xh... although there has been much speculation =|
e+ @bout the influence of atomic testing on wealher, there
- ptill appears to be no additional evidciice suggeat
e ing 8 cause and effect relationship... Ulosny,
a
5
4
}
D. GROUND MOTIONS—EARTHQUAKES (9?
: “A wide variety of factors determine bothtiicroundmotions
and structural responses from nuclear detonations, Le.energy
yields of the detonationy, distance from growl zeru, depth of
the shot and depth of messurement, and ti. nature of th
ground (hart rock, ate). “Competent” rocl such as granite
couples and transmits more energy into seisnn. wround waves
than dees alluvium—a noncohesive sedi:iclary deposit,
Although ground waves will be more rapid! sisorbed in al:
luvium, it is possible for waves to travel pres: shatances alony
the surface with relatively large amplitudes (ion unt of motion)
if the allavians iw very Chick.
However, tie c surface wavel
die out rapilly with the dept inte the prouns
Gecaune of thi
a?