Nuclear Tests and its Effects

Nuclear Tests

Nuclear weapon tests are different experiments that are done to examine the explosive capability of nuclear weapons.  It’s determined to know how they function and what is the impact of a nuclear explosion on personal structure and types of equipment etc.

Categorization

The nuclear test is categorized into four types:

• Atmospheric– In this category the explosions take place in the atmosphere.
• Underground -In this category that’s the test is done under the surface of the earth at different depths
• Exoatmospheric –  This test is conducted above the atmosphere with the help of rockets
• Underwater – This involves testing done on the water with the help of a ship or barge.

On the basis of the purposes, nuclear weapons have been further divided as:

• Weapons-related- They are done together information about how the weapons themselves work
• Weapons effects – These experiments are done to examine the effects of it on the environment types of equipment as well as personnel.
• Safety experiments – They are done to examine that if the nuclear explosion can take place accidentally or not.
• Nuclear test detection experiments – Are designed to improve the capabilities to detect, locate, and identify nuclear detonations, in particular, to monitor compliance with test-ban treaties.
• Peaceful nuclear explosions – Were conducted to investigate non-military applications of nuclear explosives.

History

The first nuclear weapon named Trinity was introduced in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, during the Manhattan Project. The main aim to get conducted was to know the size of the effect of the explosion on different components before it was actually implemented for Japan. The United States conducted six atomic tests before the Soviet Union developed its first atomic bomb (RDS-1) and tested it on August 29, 1949.

The effect of nuclear weapons is always devastating. One such example is the US Castle Bravo test in 1954. The scientists misunderstood how vigorously it would react. It had twice the effect than what was expected. A tacit moratorium on testing was in effect from 1958 to 1961 and ended with a series of Soviet tests in late 1961, including the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear weapon ever tested. The United States responded in 1962 with Operation Dominic, involving dozens of tests, including the explosion of a missile launched from a submarine.

The total number of nuclear tests from 1945 to 1992, consists of 520 nuclear explosions, with a total yield of 545 Mt., while it rose to 1,352 explosions with a total yield of 90 Mt. in 1957- 1992.

Here is a list of various nuclear tests done by different countries.

Nuclear tests By countries:

• United States: With a total of 1054 tests, involving 1149 devices to conduct them.
• Soviet Union: 715 tests, involving 969 devices by official count, plus 13 unnumbered test failures.
• United Kingdom: 45 tests in total were conducted excluding 43 safe tests.
• France: 210 official tests in which four were counted as peaceful use, as they were reported as part of the CET’s APEX.
• China: A total of 45 tests were conducted including 23 atmospheric and 22 underground tests.
• India: 6 tests conducted, all were underground tests. the first one in 1974, at Pokhran.
• Pakistan: Six underground explosions at Ras Koh Hills and the Chagai District.
• North Korea: it is the only country in the world that still conducts nuclear explosion tests, last conducted on September 3, 2017.

Effects of Nuclear Tests:

It is known that nuclear explosions, irrespective of size, and purpose have adverse effects on the environment as well as human beings. Let us have a look at what they are!

• Blast Damage: The shock waves produced by the blast can directly and hugely affect human beings as well as building around. It can also rupture the eardrums as well as other organs.

These produce air blast effects similar to those of conventional explosives.

• Thermal Radiation: There can be a huge effect on the skins as well as it can start a fire when the explosions take place. In some cases, the fires ignited by the explosion can coalesce into a firestorm, preventing the escape of survivors.
• Fallout: The explosions not only has devastating effects on human beings and environments as well as soil. Which is further carried away by soil erosion and disinfecting the ingredients for millions of years.

Add on to this, nuclear explosions have a vast effect on the health of human beings causing them never-ending diseases like cancer. we can conclude that everything around from infrastructure to human beings to our beautiful environment, everything has an adverse effect from nuclear tests and explosions. Also, this adds up infecting not only one generation but all generations coming years to years.

Concluding, when we compare the pros and cons of nuclear tests and explosions, we can say that it has more negative effects than positive ones, hence it should be stopped at its earliest. And the decision to end this unacceptable practice should be made at earliest.