A chilling map by nuclearsecrecy.com reveals the catastrophic damage that would befall Dallas, Texas if a nuclear bomb were detonated within its metropolitan area. The maps , which illustrate the apocalyptic aftermath of nuclear weapons being detonated in major cities worldwide, were created with the assistance of Alex Wellerstein, a nuclear historian at Stevens Institute of Technology.
If a weapon similar to the "Ivy King" - the largest pure fission bomb ever tested by the US- were to be detonated in Dallas, the devastation would be immense. The "Ivy King" has a yield of 500 kilotonnes. Wallerstein's expert modeling suggests such a horrific event would result in the deaths of 179,840 people.
Additionally, there would be 394,310 injuries and the light blast damage radius would extend as far as Irving. According to Wellerstein, the damage would be significant. "At around 1 psi overpressure, glass windows can be expected to break. This can cause many injuries in a surrounding population who comes to a window after seeing the flash of a nuclear explosion (which travels faster than the pressure wave). Often used as a benchmark for light damage in cities. Optimal height of burst to maximize this effect is 3,710 m," the expert's modeling suggests.
See the damage a nuclear bomb would inflict on your area by clicking here.
The fireball radius caused by the hypothetical explosion would primarily affect Downtown and Dallas City Hall Plaza. According to the map , this reaction would instantly vaporize anything within its radius. The blast, at its minimum, would reach a height of 0.5 miles This level of destruction, which would result in near-total fatalities, according to the map's data.
To view the map below, click here.
The thermal radiation radius from the blast would spread for just under six miles from the detonation point, reaching as far as University Park. The radiation would, according to the modeling ensure "third degree burns extend throughout the layers of skin, and are often painless because they destroy the pain nerves. They can cause severe scarring or disablement, and can require amputation. 100% probability for 3rd degree burns at this yield is 10.9 cal/cm² ."
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The moderate blast damage radius would extend for 3.5 miles, according to the model. This would cause most residential buildings to collapse and lead to widespread fatalities and almost universal injuries. The risk of fires spreading is also increased, adding to the devastation.
Fortunately, these scenarios are purely hypothetical, and the likelihood of such weapons being dropped remains remote.
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