What's this filaments of a nuclear explosion?

[pixel01]

The filaments at the red pointer. Is that the result of shockwave?

Thanks

 

[rbj]

i've often wondered the same thing regard that pic (or one very similar to it).

maybe it's blackbirds being toasted midflight.

 

[DaveC426913]

Offhand, I believe those are smoke streamers deliberately deployed to observe air movement.

[ EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushroom_cloud#Physics" ]

"...the streaks of smoke ... are vertical smoke flares which are used to observe the shockwave..."