Nuclear Destruction and its Effects on Earth

The effects of a nuclear bomb can be deadly. As I read Nuclear Choices, I wondered how anyone could use a weapon that has such grave effects on society. The idea that the United States made nuclear weapons and actually used them is shocking. From what I can infer from the reading, we could have theorectically destroyed a a significant chunk of Japan, not just Nagasaki and Hiroshima. I am amazed that people survived the blast, although they did obtain flash burns and radiation. One would imagine that the radiation would be the effect that causes the most harm, but the heat that radiates from the fireballs can cause fires and severe burns on people who are as far as 20 miles away (316). Nuclear weapons not only have effects on people in their explosive vicinity but also people many miles away. It is difficult to fathom the fact that mankind is able to create something that is so destructive.

Another hazard from the destruction of bombs is the overpressure that could essentially crush objects. The bomb's energy is responsible for most of the physical destruction. Although humans are immune to overpressure, the objects that are harmed by it can kill people. I don't understand how people are immune to this overpressure if it is so great, but that is another subject of physics. Also, the fires that are started by the thermal flash, as mentioned earlier, not only have effects on the ground but also in the atmosphere. The fire consumes remaining oxygen which suffocates the remaining survivors of the blast (321). Clearly, the bombs suit the purpose they are intended for, major destruction and killing. The explosions from the bombs can kill people either thousands of miles away or right in the vicinity of the bomb.

An interesting concept is that the United States is cognizant about the destruction of an all out nuclear war, but when it comes down to saving society from the bomb's after effects, they would not be prepared to save people's lives. Thermal flash burns could affect people hundreds of miles away and the burns require special treatment. That being said, the United States does not have adequate facilities to treat all of the people that would be affected by the burns or any other injuries. If the United States was involved in a full out war, people would be affected by it no matter if they were 10 miles or across the country from the bomb. Atomic radiation can cause lowered disease resistance which can lead to death, and if bombs blow up medical facilities there aren't enough adequate places to get care for all of the people who are harmed (332). Besides a health crisis, transportation would be greatly affected because it would be blocked by debris and potentially blown up. In addition, neighborhoods and neighboring cities would be in shambles. Therefore, there would be nowhere or noone to ask for aid. Lastly, a large scale nuclear war would elicit dust and chemicals into the atmosphere. The excess chemicals would seep into the ozone layer and burn through it, thus causing ultra-violet radiation to reach Earth. The increase in UV would affect humans, plants, and animals. Atomic bombs not only affect the enemy directly but the areas around it, as well as, drastically change the environment one lives in.

It is no surprise that nuclear weapons caused a huge raucous among the public. The morality and health effects of a nuclear attack need to be questioned and the reasoning behind using a destructive weapon needs to be reevaluated. In the end, it seems like the atomic bomb could so more harm then good to a society.