The production of nitrogen oxides by low-altitude nuclear explosions

Abstract

Hydrodynamic and chemical kinetic calculations are used to show that megaton (Mt) nuclear explosions near the ground produce, in the air that is shocked above 2200°K and quickly cooled by expansion, 0.8×1032 NO molecules/Mt. Inside this region the air is still so hot that further production or destruction of NO may take place. An upper limit to the production is obtained by assuming that the hot inner air mixes with undisturbed air, producing an additional 0.7×1032 NO molecules/Mt, giving a total of 1.5×1032 NO molecules/Mt. A lower limit is obtained by assuming that during the fireball rise all of the shocked air containing NO is entrained and mixed into the hotter air, and slow cooling of the mixture reduces the total NO to 0.4×1032 molecules/Mt.