- To get ranges (radii) in dry
soil, divide the above values by 1.7.
- To get depths in dry soil,
divide the above values by 0.7.
- To get ranges (radii) in hard
rock, divide the values in the table by 2.
- To get depths in hard rock,
divide the values in the table by 0.9.
A possible civil defence problem might
be that of a crater blocking a river, with a few exceptions British
rivers are relatively small and it is unlikely that the flooding would
extend beyond the area of complete destruction. Furthermore, the
radioactivity in the vicinity of the crater would be so intense that no
remedial operation such as cutting a channel through the crater lip,
except possibly by bombing from the air, would be possible for a
considerable time after the nuclear detonation.
Ground shock
The ground shock effects produced by a
megaton surface burst are similar to those produced by an earthquake of
moderate intensity, but the pressure in the ground shock wave falls off
more rapidly with distance. The effects of this ground shock on
structures above ground are irrelevant, since they do not occur beyond
the distances at which these structures are totally destroyed by blast.
Its effects on structures below ground depend upon the ability of the
structure to accommodate itself to the accompanying ground movement.
Thus, small structures (e.g. shelters below ground, including Royal
Observer Corps Posts) would move bodily with the surrounding ground and
should be undamaged beyond 2 or 3 crater radii from the burst. Similarly
long, flexible underground structures (e. g. underground utilities)
should be able to accommodate themselves to the comparatively small
relative ground movement, and should be undamaged outside about 3 crater
radii (i.e. less than 1.5 miles or 2.5km for a 10 MT bomb).
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