Interaction of the blast wave, fire, and extent of blastdamage are important factors in determining firespread.Flash burns are likely to occur on a large scale as aresult of an air or surface blast of a nuclear weapon.Because thermal radiation travels in straight lines, itburns primarily on the side facing the explosion. Butunder hazy atmospheric conditions a large proportion ofthe thermal radiation may be scattered, resulting inburns received from all direction. Depending on the sizeof the weapons, second-degree burns may be received atdistances of 25 miles or more.The intense flash of light that accompanies anuclear blast may produce flash blindness, even at arange of several miles. Flash blindness is normallytemporary, though, the eyes can recover in about 15minutes in the daytime and in about 45 minutes at night.A greater danger lies in receiving permanent damage toyour eyes caused by burns from thermal radiation,which may occur 40 miles or more from a large-yieldnuclear weapon.Under some conditions, individual fires created bya nuclear explosion can come together into mass fireswith great potential for destruction. The mostsignificant types of mass fires are divided into twocategories—firestorms and conflagrations.FIRESTORMS.—In a firestorm, many firesmerge to form a single column of hot gas that rises fromthe burning area. Strong, fire-induced, radial winds areassociated with the column. Therefore, the fire front isessentially stationary and the outward spread of fire isprevented by the in-rushing wind. Virtually everythingcombustible within the firestorm area is destroyed.CONFLAGRATIONS.—Conflagrations havemoving fire fronts driven by the wind. Conflagrationscan spread as long as there is fuel. Unlike firestorms,conflagrations can develop from a single ignition.RadiationNuclear radiation hazards consist of alpha and betaparticles, gamma rays, and neutrons.ALFA PARTICLES.—Alpha particles have littleskin-penetrating power and must be taken into the bodythrough ingestion or cuts to be injurious.BETA PARTICLES.—Beta particles can presenta hazard to personnel if the emitters of these particles(carried in contaminated dust, dirt, or bomb residue)come into contact with the skin or get inside the body.Beta particles with enough intensity cause skin burns(radiation burns).GAMMA RAYS.—Gamma rays are pure energyand not easily stopped. They can penetrate every regionof the body. In fact, many gamma rays will pass rightthrough a body without touching it. However, gammarays that do strike atoms in the body cause the atoms toionize. The ionization may result in any number ofpossible chemical reactions that damage the cells of thebody.NEUTRONS.—Of all the nuclear radiationhazards, neutrons have the greatest penetrating power.When the neutron is captured in the atoms of variouselements in the body, atmosphere, water, or soil, theelements become radioactive and release high-energygamma rays and beta particles.Initial radiation contains both gamma and neutronradiation. Residual radiation, our greatest concern,contains both gamma and beta radiation.EFFECTS ON SHIPS AND SHIPBOARDSYSTEMSShips close to a detonation point may sustainconsiderable material damage from air blast,underwater shock, water waves, and possibly thermalradiation. There will be a ship kill zone around groundzero. Outside ground zero, there will be a much largerdamage-survival zone. Here, ships will receive severe,moderate or light topside damage as well as operationaland equipment damage.Damage from an Air BlastDepending on the weapon yield, the blast wavefrom nuclear detonations can cause damage to shipsmiles from the blast. Damage will be inflicted primarilyon the superstructure and the hull above the waterline.Some examples of damage from an air blast mightinclude the warping or buckling of the flight deck; adistortion of airplane elevators, hull girders, deck13-11Student Notes:
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