Description

A nuclear detonation creates a severe environment including blast, thermal pulse, neutrons, x- and gamma-rays, radiation, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and ionization
of the upper atmosphere.

Depending upon the environment in which the nuclear device
is detonated, blast effects are manifested as ground shock, water shock, “blueout,”
cratering, and large amounts of dust and radioactive fallout. All pose problems for the survival of friendly systems and can lead to the destruction or neutralization of hostile assets.

Although some nuclear weapons effects (NWE) such as blast and cratering have analogs in the effects of conventional weapons, many NWE are unique to nuclear use.

In addition, blast and other “common” weapons effects are likely to be much more
powerful in the nuclear case than in the realm of conventional weapons. NWE are so severe that combinations of two or more simultaneously (as in a real event) may not
add linearly, complicating the design and construction of physical simulators or the
writing and validation of computer simulation codes.