1. Weapons of Mass Destruction Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Weapons 1

2. WMD: General Characteristics Enormous potential lethality Small size Modest cost Relative lack of discrimination Can be deployed on ballistic missiles Potential for proliferation Deterrence Equalizers 2 3. Nuclear Weapons: Fission Atomic bombs or A-bombs One type of atom is split (fissioned) into new types with less total mass Lost mass is transformed into energy; E=mc2 Fissionable material=U-235 or plutonium Crude and low yield Less sophisticated Within the capacity of many states 1-200 kiloton 3 4. Nuclear Weapons: Fusion Thermonuclear, hydrogen bombs, or H-bombs Two small atoms (variants of hydrogen) fuse together into a larger atom energy Extremely expensive and technologically demanding 1-20 megatons Too powerful and largely irrelevant 4 5. Nuclear Weapons: Effects 50% Blast Shock wave radiating outward Produces sudden changes in air pressure and high winds Most damage 35% Thermal radiation Heat wave traveling at ~ speed of light Flash blindness Skin burns when closer to explosion Fires 15% Nuclear radiation Fallout 5 6. New York City Example Assumptions: 150 kiloton bomb is detonated in Manhattan No warning Clear weather Daytime population density =125K/sm Shock wave spreads uniformly 6 7. NYC: 1 Second After Detonation 7 8. NYC: 4 Seconds After Detonation 8 9. NYC: 6 Seconds After Detonation 9 10. NYC: 10 Seconds After Detonation 10 11. NYC: 16 Seconds After Detonation 11 12. NYC: Long-Term Fallout Pattern 12 13. NYC: Summary Manhattan is an island help from the outside is slow in coming Most of Manhattan is without utilities for weeks Tunnels and bridges are gone rescue and recovery is difficult 900,000 people injured beyond the ability of the medical system to respond 800,000 killed 13 14. Nuclear-Armed States Country Active Warheads Total Warheads United Sates (1945) 2626 9400 Russia (1949) 4650 12000 United Kingdom (1952)