# Is it possible to calculate 100,000 MT nuclear blast radius?

1. Oct 3, 2012

### mkarger

Really, what I'm wondering is if the blast radius is a constant given an increase in output. I assume it is not. So I'm really at a loss as to how to calculate such a massive value.

The scenario is the explosion occurs at sea level on a flat desert plane.

Help?

2. Oct 3, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

What do you define as "blast radius"?
In addition, all three will depend on the height of the explosion.

Last edited: Oct 3, 2012
3. Oct 3, 2012

4. Oct 3, 2012

### mkarger

I'm thinking of the radius within which there is "total destruction" of any objects that are not very heavily reinforced.

5. Oct 3, 2012

### Staff: Mentor

Nuclear explosion simulator
Does not allow to detonate nukes above 2 MT, but I did some scaling guesswork:

2 MT: 821 km^2
1 MT: 417 km^2
0,2 MT: 88 km^2
0,02 MT: 10 km^2
0,002 MT: 1,3 km^2

Looks like a factor of ~9 for the area for a factor of 10 in weapon yield. If that does not change, I would expect an area of 25*10^6 km^2 or a radius of 2800 km for an explosion of 10^5 MT. However, this would need a nearly flat explosion, which is a bit unrealistic for such a high yield. Multiple bombs at different places could give that effect, of course.

Another tool, here for the shock wave:
5 psi overpressure: "Complete destruction of ordinary houses, and moderate to severe damage to reinforced concrete structures, will occur within this ring." (does not take heat into account)

20MT: 12.28 km
2MT: 5.7 km (102km^2)
0,2MT: 2.64 km
0,02MT: 1.23 km
That corresponds to a factor of 2.15 in radius or 4.64 in area for a factor of 10 in yield. As $10^{1/3}=2.154$ and the shock wave is spherical, that looks reasonable.
Scaled to 10^5 MT: