Since the energy partition in the two types of explosions is
significantly different, particularly in the roughly 15 per cent of
the Yield of a nuclear explosion which takes the form of prompt radiation, it seems necessary to consider an efficiency factor less than 1

for nuclear explosions as far as the cratering effects are concerned.*

Experimentally, evidence on this point is meager in the extreme, being
limited to the JANGLE surface and JANGLE underground shots. At this
point it is useful to consider the numerical data on the JANGLE surface
and the JANGLE underground shots.
The data from these two shots can
be placed on this curve with efficiency as a parameter; thus the curve
DE on Fig. 4.3, represents the JANGLE surface shot for a radiochemical
yield of 1.2

KT times the

efficiercies

shown on the

curve,

with radius

scaled on the basis m = 3.4 and charge depth (height) scaled on the
basis m= 3.
Similarly the curve FG represents the JANGLE underground
shot data on the basis 1.2 KT times the efficiencies shown there, using
the same procedure.
It will be seen that curve DE for the JANGLE surface shot intersects curve AB at an efficiency of about 60 per cent and
that curve FG representing the JANGLE underground shot intersects the
TNT curve at an efficiency of 107 per cent.
It is not suggested that
these values of efficiency are correct, but their comparative values
are at least in the direction expected.
It is recognized that, in accordance with the definition of+the equivalent TNT charge, the efficiency
of the JANGLE surface shot should be defined as the value at the intersection of curve DE with the solid curve.
It is nevertheless believed
that there are such gross differences in mechanism between nuclear and
TNT explosions in this region of close above-surface shots that the
equivalence should be divided into two parts, one of which is concerned
with the disparity in the form of the blast wave and the other is concerned with the remaining elements of efficiency.
It is felt that the
value of 107 per cent obtained on this curve for the JANGLE underground
shot is probably unrealistic for tne following reason.
It is clear that
values of the scaling exponent m, and values of efficiency, can be paired
to fit any crater measurement from a specific yield and depth.
Since
it is felt that efficiencies at greater depths than 17 ft should probably be nigher than at that depth and since it is also felt unlikely
that nuclear efficiencies are nigher tnan 100 per cent, it appears that
this value of efficiency for tne JANGLE underground snot is on the high
* For present purposes, efficiency may be defined as the ratio of the
total energy release of an equivalent TNT charge with that of a nuclear
explosive.
The equivalent TNT charge may be defined as the charge which

at the same actual (not scaled) depth produces the same crater.

Since

in both TNT and nuclear explosions it seems reasonably established that
only a small fraction of the total energy released can be accounted for
in crater production, there is no pnilosophical reason why the efficiency
of a nuclear explosion as defined above need be limited to 100 per cent;

however, at all times of interest in the formation of craters the pressure within a nuclear explosion is higher than that within the equivalent TNI explosion and hence at the time venting takes place a greater
fraction of the energy in a nuclear explosion should be dissipated to
the air.

Select target paragraph3