Comments on: Presenting NUKEMAP

By: Nuclear History and Bureaucratic Chivvying | The Evil Eyebrow

Nuclear History and Bureaucratic Chivvying | The Evil Eyebrow — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:14:56 +0000

[...] called Nuclear Secrecy. I’d originally been introduced to this blog through the web application NUKEMAP, whereby you can choose a location and then blow it up with the nuclear weapon of your choice. The [...]

By: NUKEMAP at one year and 10 million blasts | Restricted Data

NUKEMAP at one year and 10 million blasts | Restricted Data — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:45:23 +0000

[...] year ago this week, I launched the NUKEMAP. It’s perhaps fitting that this week, NUKEMAP also (coincidentally) hit 10 million [...]

By: In Search of a Sense of Scale | Restricted Data

In Search of a Sense of Scale | Restricted Data — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 20:52:22 +0000

[...] (Obviously to do so is partially a defense reflex.) This was part of my motivation with the NUKEMAP, but it’s part of a broader goal as well, and is one of the reasons I am drawn to any little [...]

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:12:09 +0000

Hi Alex,

First, Great Job!!!

Since you wrote: “Wish this did something that it doesn’t? Let me know.”, here are my ideas:

I think it would be really dramatic if, instead of the effects appearing instantaneously upon detonation, the effects were to appear in “slow motion”, starting with the fireball, and proceeding through the edge of the displayed Thermal radiation radius. For added effect, a progressive timeline bar could be displayed near the bottom of the map.

Another dramatic effect could be a momentary whitening of the full heat radius at the instant of the blast, fading immediately and followed by the above suggested slow motion progression.

Another idea might be (if in satellite mode) to replace map detail within the fireball radius with no detail, representing obliterated structures. Perhaps an exaggeration, but previously visible streets could be hidden by ash and debris, if not part of the crater. Come to think of it, you could also darken the area inside the crater, to represent depth.

To help control all this, an additional parameter could be the blast height. If not specified, one could be arbitrarily chosen for maximum effect…

- Michael

By: Aaron Nelson

Aaron Nelson — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:23:12 +0000

Oh I guess I should’ve used Google for the translation… I must’ve already been in the mindset of the Chinese Government copying nearly everything originally created in the USA. These figures are based on 200W^1/3 Optimum burst height? That is for maximizing 15 PSI overpressure. I know military targets are usually 60W^1/3 instead.

By: Alex Wellerstein

Alex Wellerstein — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:35:45 +0000

It is just a story about NUKEMAP in Chinese. Google Maps will display placenames in whatever language is local if you have it set up to do so. Given that I am described as a “bone ash level”, I wouldn’t rely much on the accuracy of that translation… Google Translate says it says I am “a hardcore of nuclear weapons enthusiasts,” which makes a little more sense.

By: Aaron Nelson

Aaron Nelson — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:12:45 +0000

The link appears to be a Chinese Version of NUKEMAP… Who was first?

By: Aaron Nelson

Aaron Nelson — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:11:05 +0000

Amature? Chinese to English translation please… This is what translation I got from WordLingo.

Blasts XX city how with the atomic bomb to be able? How nucleus military map does (NUKEMAP) tell you effect says:
February 19, 2012 at 10:51 am

[...] Alex Wellerstein is a bone ash level nuclear weapon amateur, he is interested to nuclear weapon all.Because the existing nuclear weapon calculator is discontented to the net on, he began to develop a homepage to apply NUKEMAP. [...]

Are we dealing with a Chinese Nuclear Scientist here?

By: Aaron Nelson

Aaron Nelson — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:05:22 +0000

Oh another thing, 60W^1/3 is normally associated with counter-force targeting, usually harder military type targets. But 200W^1/3 is associated with counter-value targeting, soft targets such as office buildings and houses. For a 1kt weapon the effects at 200m are a little more widespread than at 60m, but the fallout from particles picked up is minimal and really spread out, while 60m is much higher because of dust picked up from the low burst, and as a result is much more local as well.

I have a blast effects table I have been working on as well, including crater formulas using the NEW calculation, instead of the flawed calculations used previously due to tests on wet island soil. I am just making a table however, not an app, nor do I have the technical expertise for that.

I just share a common interest and curiosity and would love to discuss this matter in greater detail if you have the time. I could send you the data I have as well, and we could compare our results. I have data for surface, and both types of air bursts.

I was in the Army until recently, and was going to pursue a career in applied physics. Nuclear Weapons to be precise. The career is way to exclusive though, so just going back to the intelligence world is better for me, as it was while I was in the military.

Well I hope to hear from you soon, if you would like. Thank you and have a good day.

-Aaron

By: Aaron Nelson

Aaron Nelson — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:33:14 +0000

Hello, this is a really great app! Finally an app that displays thermal radiation, prompt radiation, and overpressure radii based on yield! I have a few questions though… First, when you state the calculations are based on Optimum Burst Height, are you referring to the height to maximize 15PSI overpressure (200W^1/3)? Or are you referring to military effects overpressure (60W^1/3)? 60W^1/3 is used for the greatest radius of higher pressures (~400PSI) for destroying tanks and bunkers, and also for fallout because it is a lower air burst and picks up dirt and still has some of the benefits of an air burst.

If you check you can see many military manuals refer to effects on Infantry from a burst at 60W^1/3, but typical air burst like Hiroshima were 200W^1/3. Your app is already really great, but it would be even better if you could choose burst height or atleast choose surface or air, at least know what type of burst height, 60W or 200W? And displaying different overpressure and thermal radiation levels would be great too, like 15PSI 7PSI 5PSI, and 1st Degree 2nd Degree 3rd Degree, 5th Degree, or ever 500 Rems and 100 Rems Radii…

A reply would be GREATLY appreciated, I am intrigued by nuclear weapons and their effects, and I am really curious about some of the details of this app. If you could email me or reply on here I would really appreciate it if u have the time. This is by FAR the best app for Nuclear Weapon Effects that I have seen yet! Thank you for your time and attention!

-Aaron