Nuclear Testing                    

Between 1945 and 2017, at over 60 locations throughout the world, at least eight nations have detonated 2,056 nuclear test explosions from Lop Nor in China, to the atolls of the Pacific, to Nevada, to Algeria to western Australia, the South Atlantic, Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, across Russia, and a number of other remote locations.

Most of the test sites are in the lands of indigenous peoples and far away from the testing governments. About a quarter of the tests were in the atmosphere, spreading radioactive materials over the entire globe. Many of the underground tests have vented fallout into the atmosphere and contaminated large areas of land. The purpose of tests was to make more and more efficient means of destruction. Eight nations have definitely tested weapons and possibly a ninth.

Test bans

On August 5, 1963, after more than eight years of difficult negotiations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the USSR signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The treaty:

1.  prohibited nuclear weapons tests or other nuclear explosions under water, in the atmosphere, or in outer space
2. allowed underground nuclear tests as long as no radioactive debris falls outside the boundaries of the nation conducting the test
3. pledged signatories to work towards complete disarmament, an end to the armaments race, and an end to the contamination of the environment by radioactive substances.

In 1996 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Signed by 71 nations, including those possessing nuclear weapons, the treaty prohibited all nuclear test explosions including those conducted underground. Though it was signed by President Bill Clinton, the Senate rejected the treaty by a vote of 51 to 48. The CTBT, which prohibits "any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion" and established a international test monitoring and verification system, has not yet entered into force. Sadly not all nuclear capable nations have signed and ratified the Treaty: China, Israel and the USA have signed but not ratified; India, North Korea and Pakistan have not signed. President Trump has suggested at various times that he wished to re-initiate nuclear testing.

Nuclear Tests

Nuclear tests by year

N.B.:- In accordance with the definition of a nuclear test to be found in the Threshold Test Ban Treaty (1974) and to allow direct comparison with other countries' data. India's tests in 1998 actually consisted of a total of five weapons over two days and are therefore counted as two tests. In similar fashion Pakistan's five simultaneous detonations on 28th May of the same year also count as a single test. In addition to the above it is believed, by some, that Israel also conducted a single test in collaboration with South Africa in 1979, this is referred to as the Vela Incident.

"Operation Hurricane"

"Operation IVY  (1952)"

"Tsar Bomba (Царь-бомба)"