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Atmospheric effects from post-nuclear fires

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Abstract

During a large nuclear war, the atmosphere would be loaded with huge quantities of pollutants, which are produced by fires in urban and industrial centers, cultivated lands, forests and grasslands. Especially detrimental are the effects of light absorbing airborne particles. An analysis of the amounts of the various types of fuels which could burn in a nuclear war indicates that more than 1014 g of black smoke could be produced by fires started by the nuclear explosions. Due to this, the penetration of sunlight to the earth's surface would be reduced greatly over extended areas of the northern hemisphere, maybe even globally. This could temporarily cause extreme darkness in large areas in midlatitudes and reduce crop growth and biospheric productivity.

This situation would last for several weeks and cause very anomalous meteorological conditions. Much solar radiation would be absorbed in the atmosphere instead of at the earth's surface. The land areas and lower atmosphere would, therefore, cool and the overlying atmosphere warm, creating strong vertical thermal stability in a highly polluted atmosphere. For extended periods and in large parts of the world, weather conditions would be abnormal. The resulting cold, probably freezing, temperatures at the ground would interfere severely with crop production during the growing season and cause extreme conditions for large sections of the biosphere. The combination of lack of sunlight, frost and other adverse meteorological conditions would add enormously to the already huge problems of the survivors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Air Chemistry Division, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institut), P.O. Box 3060, D-6500, Mainz, Germany

    Paul J. Crutzen

  2. CSIRO, Division of Atmospheric Research, Aspendale, Victoria, Australia

    Ian E. Galbally

  3. Air Chemistry Division, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Otto-Hahn-Institut), P.O. Box 3060, D-6500, Mainz, Germany

    Christoph Brühl

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  1. Paul J. Crutzen
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  2. Ian E. Galbally
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  3. Christoph Brühl
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Crutzen, P.J., Galbally, I.E. & Brühl, C. Atmospheric effects from post-nuclear fires. Climatic Change 6, 323–364 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212627

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