Environment
Fact Checked

What is Nuclear Winter?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Nuclear winter is a theoretical concept which has been put forward by some members of the scientific community. It originated in 1982 with John Birks and Paul Crutzen. Put briefly, the detonation of large numbers of nuclear weapons could trigger a dramatic change in the global climate, causing extreme cold and potentially resulting in serious trouble for the living organisms which call Earth home. Numerous studies on the possibility of nuclear winter have been conducted, and it is difficult to prove that it would happen in the event of a nuclear war, but it is one of the many arguments used against nuclear attacks on other nations.

According to the theories, nuclear winter would be caused by a huge cloud of dust, smoke, and particulate matter resulting from large-scale detonations over cities around the world. As the cities and surrounding areas burned, they could inject huge amounts of material into the atmosphere, slowly blocking sunlight. Because sunlight would not be able to reach Earth, global temperatures would drop dramatically, and our ability to produce food would be greatly reduced.

Nuclear weapons are so destructive to populations and land that they are considered weapons of mass destruction.
Nuclear weapons are so destructive to populations and land that they are considered weapons of mass destruction.

Scientists have also suggested that a large-scale detonation of nuclear weapons could damage the ozone layer. Because harmful UV radiation can penetrate layers of particulate matter, people would still be at risk of UV exposure despite the fact that it would be dark and cold. People would be at risk from fallout. This could combine with low food production to threaten many organisms on Earth, from humans to birds.

Theoretically, the detonation of large numbers of nuclear weapons could trigger a dramatic change in the global climate, causing extreme cold and serious trouble for Earth's occupants.
Theoretically, the detonation of large numbers of nuclear weapons could trigger a dramatic change in the global climate, causing extreme cold and serious trouble for Earth's occupants.

Most of the studies on nuclear winter point out that a massive number of nuclear weapons would need to be detonated to trigger climate change on this scale; something along the lines of half of the known nuclear devices on Earth. It has also been suggested that the detonations would need to be fairly close together, creating a steady stream of material which would work its way up into the atmosphere. Nuclear winter is probably also more likely to impact the Northern Hemisphere, given that this is where the bulk of potential nuclear targets are located.

Critics of the nuclear winter theory have suggested that while we might see some climate change, it wouldn't be as dramatic as the nuclear winter theory proposes. These critics suggest that the particulate matter would be scrubbed from the atmosphere by rain and wind. However, proponents of the theory have pointed out that massive volcanic eruptions have historically caused climate change by shooting streams of smoke and ash into the atmosphere, and the climactic effects of the oil fires in Kuwait during the First Gulf War also lend credence to the theory.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments

anon1000726

Russia still has a significant amount of nuclear weapons to launch against the US. In a nuclear ear they would not hold back even today. The rogue nation that launches the few missiles will be the opening salvo in the bigger match between the US/Russia/China/others. Believe me there will be a nuclear winter if such a war occurred and do not be fooled with the end of the Cold War. Tensions are high ernow then at times during the Cold War.

Logicfest

This theory was considerably more relevant during the Cold War era than it is today. Back when the United States and Soviet Union were two somewhat equally matched nuclear powers, the notion that a nuclear war would result in the release of most of the nuclear weapons on the planet was quite credible.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the threat of enough nukes being tossed around to set off a nuclear winter has diminished. The main nuclear threat comes not from super powers with silos full of enough missiles to wipe out the planet, but from a rogue nation or two with a couple of missiles to launch. The damage done by just a few nukes would be substantial, but arguably not enough to set off a nuclear winter.

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    • Nuclear weapons are so destructive to populations and land that they are considered weapons of mass destruction.
      By: Pei Lin
      Nuclear weapons are so destructive to populations and land that they are considered weapons of mass destruction.
    • Theoretically, the detonation of large numbers of nuclear weapons could trigger a dramatic change in the global climate, causing extreme cold and serious trouble for Earth's occupants.
      By: The Official CTBTO Photostream
      Theoretically, the detonation of large numbers of nuclear weapons could trigger a dramatic change in the global climate, causing extreme cold and serious trouble for Earth's occupants.