Nuclear Environment

The environment, which results from the detonation of nuclear weapons. Some components of this environment are directly emitted by the nuclear weapon and other collateral effects are created by the interaction of the emitted nuclear radiation with the earths atmosphere, the earths surface and the earths magnetic field. The nuclear environment consists of radiation, blast, shock, thermal, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), emissions from radioactive debris, trapped electrons, and disturbances to the atmosphere and to the propagation paths for radar and communications. The nuclear environment exists in the exoatmospheric , atmospheric and ground BMD operational regimes.