Because fallout is in the form of particles, it can be carried long distances on wind currents and end up miles from the site of the explosion. The condensed radioactive material then falls back to the earth this is what is known as fallout. As this vaporized radioactive material cools, it becomes condensed and forms particles, such as dust. Radioactive material from the nuclear device mixes with the vaporized material in the mushroom cloud. This creates the mushroom cloud that we associate with a nuclear blast, detonation, or explosion. Everything inside of this fireball vaporizes, including soil and water, and is carried upwards. When a nuclear device is exploded, a large fireball is created. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II produced nuclear blasts. What is a nuclear blast?Ī nuclear blast, produced by explosion of a nuclear bomb (sometimes called a nuclear detonation), involves the joining or splitting of atoms (called fusion and fission) to produce an intense pulse or wave of heat, light, air pressure, and radiation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed this fact sheet to describe what happens when a nuclear blast occurs, the possible health effects, and what you can do to protect yourself in this type of emergency.

With the recent threats of terrorism, many people have expressed concern about the likelihood and effects of a nuclear blast.

Bombs away the hot war