Nuclear weapons testing

3299: 3283: 3595: 3723: 31: 3023: 3349: 1089: 3267: 3362: 3160:, more than had been anticipated, and a change in the weather pattern caused the fallout to spread in a direction not cleared in advance. The fallout plume spread high levels of radiation for over 100 miles (160 km), contaminating a number of populated islands in nearby atoll formations. Though they were soon evacuated, many of the islands' inhabitants suffered from radiation burns and later from other effects such as increased cancer rate and birth defects, as did the crew of the Japanese fishing boat 3443: 3490: 64: 3384: 843: 3742: 3676: 636: 3649: 3170: 4528:: In March 2009, the French Government offered to compensate victims for the first time and legislation is being drafted which would allow payments to people who suffered health problems related to the tests. The payouts would be available to victims' descendants and would include Algerians, who were exposed to nuclear testing in the Sahara in 1960. However, victims say the eligibility requirements for compensation are too narrow. 3041: 329: 3541: 3133: 3626: 5443: 3825:

ratified by 44 specific nuclear technology-holder countries. These "Annex 2 States" participated in the negotiations on the CTBT between 1994 and 1996 and possessed nuclear power or research reactors at that time. The ratification of eight Annex 2 states is still missing: China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the United States have signed but not ratified the Treaty; India, North Korea and Pakistan have not signed it.

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all explosive devices can be connected by segments of straight lines, each of them connecting two burial points, and the total length does not exceed 40 kilometers. For nuclear weapon tests, a salvo is defined as two or more underground nuclear explosions conducted at a test site within an area delineated by a circle having a diameter of two kilometers and conducted within a total period of time of 0.1 seconds.

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is widely thought to possess a sizable nuclear arsenal, though it has never tested, unless they were involved in Vela. Experts disagree on whether states can have reliable nuclear arsenals—especially ones using advanced warhead designs, such as hydrogen bombs and miniaturized weapons—without testing,

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had involved the effect of atomic weapons on a navy, and how they functioned underwater) and to test new weapon designs. During the 1950s, these included new hydrogen bomb designs, which were tested in the Pacific, and also new and improved fission weapon designs. The Soviet Union also began testing

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tests are designed to gain information about the effects of the weapons on structures, equipment, organisms, and the environment. They are mainly used to assess and improve survivability to nuclear explosions in civilian and military contexts, tailor weapons to their targets, and develop the tactics

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In US context, it was decided during the Manhattan Project that yield measured in tons of TNT equivalent could be imprecise. This comes from the range of experimental values of the energy content of TNT, ranging from 900 to 1,100 calories per gram (3,800 to 4,600 kJ/g). There is also the issue

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in 1963. True underground tests are intended to be fully contained and emit a negligible amount of fallout. Unfortunately these nuclear tests do occasionally "vent" to the surface, producing from nearly none to considerable amounts of radioactive debris as a consequence. Underground testing, almost

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In conformity with treaties between the United States and the Soviet Union, a salvo is defined, for multiple explosions for peaceful purposes, as two or more separate explosions where a period of time between successive individual explosions does not exceed 5 seconds and where the burial points of

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Over 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted in over a dozen different sites around the world. Red Russia/Soviet Union, blue France, light blue United States, violet Britain, yellow China, orange India, brown Pakistan, green North Korea, and light green (territories exposed to nuclear bombs). The

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is building an international monitoring system with 337 facilities located all over the globe. 85% of these facilities are already operational. As of May 2012, the CTBT has been signed by 183 States, of which 157 have also ratified. However, for the Treaty to enter into force it needs to be

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The Partial Nuclear Test Ban treaty makes it illegal to detonate any nuclear explosion anywhere except underground, in order to reduce atmospheric fallout. Most countries have signed and ratified the Partial Nuclear Test Ban, which went into effect in October 1963. Of the nuclear states, France,

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for details). 24 tests are classified as British tests held at the NTS. There were 35 Plowshare detonations and 7 Vela Uniform tests; 88 tests were safety experiments and 4 were transportation/storage tests. Motion pictures were made of the explosions, later used to validate computer simulation

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and thermonuclear are typically measured in different amounts. Thermonuclear bombs can be hundreds or thousands of times stronger than their atomic counterparts. Due to this, thermonuclear bombs' yields are usually expressed in megatons which is about the equivalent of 1,000,000 tons of TNT. In

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tests are designed to garner information about how (and if) the weapons themselves work. Some serve to develop and validate a specific weapon type. Others test experimental concepts or are physics experiments meant to gain fundamental knowledge of the processes and materials involved in nuclear

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in 1963, which limited signatories to underground testing. Not all countries stopped atmospheric testing, but because the United States and the Soviet Union were responsible for roughly 86% of all nuclear tests, their compliance cut the overall level substantially. France continued atmospheric

869:, balloons, barges, or islands, or dropped from airplanes, and also those only buried far enough to intentionally create a surface-breaking crater. The United States, the Soviet Union, and China have all conducted tests involving explosions of missile-launched bombs (See 6715:

Exposure of the American Population to Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Weapons Tests: A Review of the CDC-NCI Draft Report on a Feasibility Study of the Health Consequences to the American Population from Nuclear Weapons Tests Conducted by the United States and Other

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are designed to study the behavior of weapons in simulated accident scenarios. In particular, they are used to verify that a (significant) nuclear detonation cannot happen by accident. They include one-point safety tests and simulations of storage and transportation

3801:. These treaties were proposed in response to growing international concerns about environmental damage among other risks. Nuclear testing involving humans also contributed to the formation of these treaties. Examples can be seen in the following articles: 3241:" required for it to take effect, including the United States. Nuclear testing has since become a controversial issue in the United States, with a number of politicians saying that future testing might be necessary to maintain the aging warheads from the 4567:, the first nuclear test of a given weapon type for a country is included, as well as tests that were otherwise notable (such as the largest test ever). All yields (explosive power) are given in their estimated energy equivalents in kilotons of 1116:

study nuclear materials under the conditions of explosive shock compression. They can create subcritical conditions, or supercritical conditions with yields ranging from negligible all the way up to a substantial fraction of full weapon yield.

6411:"N° 3571.- Rapport de MM. Christian Bataille et Henri Revol sur les incidences environnementales et sanitaires des essais nucléaires effectués par la France entre 1960 et 1996 (Office d'évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques)" 986:). Underwater tests close to the surface can disperse large amounts of radioactive particles in water and steam, contaminating nearby ships or structures, though they generally do not create fallout other than very locally to the explosion. 3298: 3711:

From the first nuclear test in 1945 until tests by Pakistan in 1998, there was never a period of more than 22 months with no nuclear testing. June 1998 to October 2006 was the longest period since 1945 with no acknowledged nuclear tests.

3583:. Four of the In Ekker tests are counted as peaceful use, as they were reported as part of the CET's APEX (Application pacifique des expérimentations nucléaires, “Peaceful Application of Nuclear Experiments”), and given alternate names. 1004:

The USSR has exploded up to eight devices in a single salvo test; Pakistan's second and last official test exploded four different devices. Almost all lists in the literature are lists of tests; in the lists in Knowledge (for example,

3757:. The New Zealand curve is representative for the Southern Hemisphere, the Austrian curve is representative for the Northern Hemisphere. Atmospheric nuclear weapon tests almost doubled the concentration of C in the Northern Hemisphere. 3785:. This global fallout was one of the main drivers for the ban of nuclear weapons testing, particularly atmospheric testing. It has been estimated that by 2020 up to 2.4 million people have died as a result of nuclear weapons testing. 1055:

are designed to improve the capabilities to detect, locate, and identify nuclear detonations, in particular, to monitor compliance with test-ban treaties. In the United States these tests are associated with Operation

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Over 500 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests were conducted at various sites around the world from 1945 to 1980. As public awareness and concern mounted over the possible health hazards associated with exposure to the

974:, usually moored to a ship or a barge (which is subsequently destroyed by the explosion). Tests of this nature have usually been conducted to evaluate the effects of nuclear weapons against naval vessels (such as in 3216:

Almost all new nuclear powers have announced their possession of nuclear weapons with a nuclear test. The only acknowledged nuclear power that claims never to have conducted a test was South Africa (although see

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Eliminated Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs). Implemented by 1 June 1991. Both sides alleged the other was in violation of the treaty. Expired following U.S. withdrawal, 2 August 2019.

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test in 1954. The weapon design tested was a new form of hydrogen bomb, and the scientists underestimated how vigorously some of the weapon materials would react. As a result, the explosion—with a

4554:: China has undertaken highly secretive atomic tests in remote deserts in a Central Asian border province. Anti-nuclear activists say there is no known government program for compensating victims. 4538:

in the 1950s are engaged in legal action against the Ministry of Defense for negligence. They say they suffered health problems and were not warned of potential dangers before the experiments.

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in 1996, these countries pledged to discontinue all nuclear testing; the treaty has not yet entered into force because of its failure to be ratified by eight countries. Non-signatories

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Underground tests conducted by the Soviet Union continued until 1990, the United Kingdom until 1991, the United States until 1992, and both China and France until 1996. In signing the

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would be before they were used in combat against Japan. While the test gave a good approximation of many of the explosion's effects, it did not give an appreciable understanding of

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is used extensively to provide as much information as possible without physical testing. Mathematical models for such simulation model scenarios not only of performance but also of

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of populations and the food supply—occurred during other atmospheric nuclear weapons tests by other countries as well. Concerns over worldwide fallout rates eventually led to the

3166:. One crewman died from radiation sickness after returning to port, and it was feared that the radioactive fish they had been carrying had made it into the Japanese food supply. 3095:) and tested it on August 29, 1949. Neither country had very many atomic weapons to spare at first, and so testing was relatively infrequent (when the U.S. used two weapons for 6184:

Pavlovski, O. A. (1 January 1998). "Radiological Consequences of Nuclear Testing for the Population of the Former USSR (Input Information, Models, Dose, and Risk Estimates)".

5187: 5155: 4548:. However, there was no compensation to civilians sickened by the Totsk test. Anti-nuclear groups say there has been no government compensation for other nuclear tests. 3101:

in 1946, they were detonating over 20% of their current arsenal). However, by the 1950s the United States had established a dedicated test site on its own territory (

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tacitly agreed to by the major atomic powers. Subcritical tests continue to be performed by the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China, at least.

701:. However, nuclear testing has often been used as an indicator of scientific and military strength. Many tests have been overtly political in their intention; most 6947: 6318:

Mikhailov, Editor in Chief, V.N.; Andryushin, L.A.; Voloshin, N.P.; Ilkaev, R.I.; Matushchenko, A.M.; Ryabev, L.D.; Strukov, V.G.; Chernyshev, A.K.; Yudin, Yu.A.

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Bouville, André; Simon, Steven L.; Miller, Charles W.; Beck, Harold L.; Anspaugh, Lynn R.; Bennett, Burton G. (2002). "Estimates of Doses from Global Fallout".

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of which ton to use, as short tons, long tons, and metric tonnes all have different values. It was therefore decided that one kiloton would be equivalent to 1.0

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Castle Bravo was the worst U.S. nuclear accident, but many of its component problems—unpredictably large yields, changing weather patterns, unexpected fallout

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Provided information on the behavior of new plutonium alloys compressed by high-pressure shock waves; same as Stagecoach but for the age of the alloys.

6385: 6249: 5512: 196: 3266: 3260:, while the estimated number of underground nuclear tests conducted in the period from 1957 to 1992 was 1,352 explosions with a total yield of 90 Mt. 1072:

were conducted to investigate non-military applications of nuclear explosives. In the United States, these were performed under the umbrella name of

3607: 3480: 1110:. A theme has generally been that even though simulations cannot fully replace physical testing, they can reduce the amount of it that is necessary. 5755: 5703: 3722: 4514:

of 1990, more than $ 1.38 billion in compensation has been approved. The money is going to people who took part in the tests, notably at the

3245:. Because nuclear testing is seen as furthering nuclear arms development, many are opposed to future testing as an acceleration of the arms race. 1131:. They can be subcritical or supercritical, in which case significant radiation fluxes can be produced. This type of test has resulted in several 4349: 1080:

Aside from these technical considerations, tests have been conducted for political and training purposes, and can often serve multiple purposes.

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The nuclear powers have conducted more than 2,000 nuclear test explosions (numbers are approximate, as some test results have been disputed):

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The 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions everywhere, including underground. For that purpose, the

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USA agrees; ban begins on 31 October 1958, 3 November 1958 for the Soviets, and lasts until abrogated by a USSR test on 1 September 1961.

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Another way to classify nuclear tests is by the number of explosions that constitute the test. The treaty definition of a salvo test is:

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Kismet was a proof of concept for modern hydronuclear tests; it did not contain any SNM (Special Nuclear Material—plutonium or uranium).

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Largest boosted fission weapon ever tested. Intended as a fallback "in megaton range" in case British thermonuclear development failed.

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balloons were used on Indian Springs Air Force Base, Nevada, April 20, 1952 to get exact weather information during atomic test periods.

3129:, though, both countries developed accelerated testing programs, testing many hundreds of bombs over the last half of the 20th century. 6639: 4488: 4076: 3557: 3549: 576: 273: 7652: 6163: 4719: 4674: 4564: 3085: 658: 391: 386: 304: 6841:

Rice, James. Downwind of the Atomic State: Atmospheric Testing and the Rise of the Risk Society. (New York University Press, 2023).

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though all agree that it is very unlikely to develop significant nuclear innovations without testing. One other approach is to use

827: 799: 501: 486: 401: 247: 3450:: 715 tests (involving 969 devices) by official count, plus 13 unnumbered test failures. Most were at their Southern Test Area at 3205:

A tacit moratorium on testing was in effect from 1958 to 1961 and ended with a series of Soviet tests in late 1961, including the

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Bans categories of weapons, including conventional, from Europe. Russia notified signatories of intent to suspend, 14 July 2007.

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fallout plume spread dangerous levels of radiation over an area over 100 miles (160 km) long, including inhabited islands.

823: 780: 702: 556: 541: 511: 496: 466: 446: 421: 406: 396: 217: 207: 3252:, from 1945 to 1992, 520 atmospheric nuclear explosions (including eight underwater) were conducted with a total yield of 545 6201: 5285: 5253: 4957: 4893: 4861: 4855: 4789: 4714: 4669: 4635: 4397: 3798: 3769:, the thousands of tests, hundreds being atmospheric, did nevertheless produce a global fallout that has peaked in 1963 (the 3433: 3427: 1154: 795: 791: 784: 551: 461: 456: 431: 416: 411: 233: 222: 212: 6306:"USSR Nuclear Weapons Tests and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions 1949 through 1990" (Document). Sarov, Russia: RFNC-VNIIEF. 1996. 7646: 7571: 3666: 651: 639: 441: 436: 137: 3185:) in the continental United States resulting from all exposure routes from all atmospheric nuclear tests conducted at the 7627: 5517: 4511: 854:

Nuclear weapons tests have historically been divided into four categories reflecting the medium or location of the test.

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Provided information on the behavior of aged (up to 40 years) plutonium alloys compressed by high-pressure shock waves.

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formed and in 1963, three (UK, US, Soviet Union) of the then four nuclear states and many non-nuclear states signed the

7213: 7099: 6872: 5887: 5506: 4122: 3510: 5756:"Trust but verify: U.S. labs are overhauling the nuclear stockpile. Can they validate the weapons without bomb tests?" 6801: 6777: 6732: 6319: 3639: 3156:—was over twice what was predicted. Aside from this problem, the weapon also generated a large amount of radioactive 515: 3238: 7689: 5499: 3986: 5737: 3781:

dose from all sources, and has slowly decreased since, with natural environmental radiation levels being around 1

3256:, with a peak occurring in 1961–1962, when 340 megatons were detonated in the atmosphere by the United States and 697:

are affected by different conditions, and how personnel, structures, and equipment are affected when subjected to

7668: 5473: 4169: 4032: 3916: 3794: 3391:: 1,054 tests by official count (involving at least 1,149 devices). 219 were atmospheric tests as defined by the 949: 451: 6836:

Elements of Controversy: The Atomic Energy Commission and Radiation Safety in Nuclear Weapons Testing, 1947–1974

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test of 1962 was an experiment by the United States in using nuclear weapons to excavate large amounts of earth.

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Separately from these designations, nuclear tests are also often categorized by the purpose of the test itself.

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Plutonium surface studies (optical analysis of spall), followup to Mario. Used cast plutonium from Los Alamos.

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testing refers to nuclear tests conducted above the atmosphere. The test devices are lifted on rockets. These

7368: 7361: 7199: 5607: 4053: 3683:: North Korea is the only country in the world that still tests nuclear weapons, and their tests have caused 3392: 3343: 3249: 3234: 3077: 1251: 1093: 1061: 953: 592: 297: 115: 6389: 6256: 744:

on November 1, 1952 (local date), also by the United States. The largest nuclear weapon ever tested was the

7413: 7270: 5687:"The Treaty has not been signed by France or by the People's Republic of China." U.S. Department of State, 4576: 3810: 3701: 3684: 6410: 4321:

George. H. W. Bush declares unilateral ban on nuclear testing. Extended several times, not yet abrogated.

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There have been many attempts to limit the number and size of nuclear tests; the most far-reaching is the

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of the nuclear device and the composition of the medium in which it is detonated, and generally creates a

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Underground testing also falls into two physical categories: tunnel tests in generally horizontal tunnel

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The United States conducted six atomic tests before the Soviet Union developed their first atomic bomb (

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study claims that nuclear fallout might have led to approximately 11,000 excess deaths, most caused by

4009: 2504:"...confirm nuclear performance of the W88 warhead with a newly-manufactured pit." Early pit studies. 320: 238: 83: 3403:

and other locations in the Pacific, 3 in the South Atlantic Ocean, and 17 other tests taking place in

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The first atomic weapons test was conducted near Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, during the

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Deep reductions in ICBMs. Abrogated by Russia in 2002 in retaliation of US abrogation of ABM Treaty.

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First potential fusion-boosted weapon test by India; first deployable fission weapon test by India.

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Danielson, Jeremy; Bauer, Amy L. (September 2016). Nightshade Prototype Experiments (Silverleaf).

4510:: Prior to March 2009, the U.S. was the only nation to compensate nuclear test victims. Since the 4275:

35-40% reduction in ICBMs with verification. Treaty expired 5 December 2009, renewed (see below).

3548:: 210 tests by official count (50 atmospheric, 160 underground), four atomic atmospheric tests at 7538: 6757:"Radiation Exposure Compensation System: Claims to Date Summary of Claims Received by 06/11/2009" 6756: 5128:

Largest thermonuclear weapon ever tested—scaled down from its initial 100 Mt design by 50%.

3451: 3400: 3198: 3174: 3110: 3045: 1200: 912: 894: 768: 132: 5938: 5541: – Academic and policy-relevant field on problems in the nuclear weapons and energy complex 4864:" thermonuclear weapon, with cryogenic fusion fuel, primarily a test device and not weaponized. 4534:: There is no formal British government compensation program. However, nearly 1,000 veterans of 4413:

Bans all nuclear testing, peaceful and otherwise. Strong detection and verification mechanism (

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contrast, atomic bombs' yields are typically measured in kilotons, or about 1,000 tons of TNT.

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Plutonium surface studies (optical analysis of spall). Used wrought plutonium from Rocky Flats.

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Plutonium subcritical test designed to confirm supercomputer simulations for stockpile safety.

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Atomic and nuclear tests can involve many hazards. Some of these were illustrated in the U.S.

7597: 7171: 7041: 5463: 5423: 3805: 3213:, involving dozens of tests, including the explosion of a missile launched from a submarine. 3149: 3073: 3049: 1153:

of fissile material. They are the only type of tests allowed under the interpretation of the

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testing refers to nuclear tests conducted under the surface of the earth, at varying depths.

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is 8 hours after local time; UT dates are one day after local date for UT times after 16:00.

3162: 7347: 7248: 7155: 7120: 7055: 7034: 6255:. Las Vegas, NV: Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office. 2000-12-01. Archived from 5967: 5457: 5411: 4779: 4596: 4280: 4071:

Restricts ABM development; additional protocol added in 1974; abrogated by the US in 2002.

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There may also have been at least three alleged but unacknowledged nuclear explosions (see

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series) are not included in that number, though safety experiments by other countries are.

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made up the majority of nuclear tests by the United States and the Soviet Union during the

729: 693:. Testing nuclear weapons offers practical information about how the weapons function, how 682: 358: 120: 108: 42: 4685:, first detonation of a uranium gun-type device, first use of a nuclear device in combat. 3022: 8: 7375: 7333: 7298: 7127: 6927: 6519:

Trends: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center

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Trends: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center

5863: 4811: 4190: 1099: 1073: 862: 162: 5571: – Hole or depression left on the surface over the site of an underground explosion 2452:

April–May 2005, a series of mini-hydronuclear experiments interpreting Armando results.

771:, pledging to refrain from testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, underwater, or in 7522: 7459: 7241: 7192: 7148: 7113: 7092: 7062: 6985: 6782: 6235: 6095: 5580: 5522: 5145: 4723: 3940: 3502: 3348: 3116:

The early tests were used primarily to discern the military effects of atomic weapons (

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and the tests by India and Pakistan in 1998, are somewhat contested among specialists.

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First boosted nuclear weapon test, first weapon test to employ fusion in any measure.

30: 7622: 7319: 7305: 7284: 7234: 7220: 7206: 7134: 7106: 7069: 7048: 7013: 7006: 6738: 6728: 6582: 6578: 6463: 6338: 6197: 6144: 6069:"Subcritical experiment captures scientific measurements to advance stockpile safety" 5568: 5562: 4141:

Prohibits higher than 150 kt, or 1500kt in aggregate, testing for peaceful purposes.

3766: 3210: 3065: 3057: 2862:, the plutonium was replaced by a surrogate; this is a dress rehearsal for the later 1128: 1007: 925: 893:

of otherwise non-radioactive material. This definition of atmospheric is used in the

886: 698: 167: 152: 147: 142: 78: 6492: 6238:(Report). Office of Technology Assessment. 31 October 1989. p. 11. OTA-ISC-414. 4164:

Bans use and emplacement of nuclear weapons on the moon and other celestial bodies.

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February 6 – May 3, 2007, 12 mini-hydronuclear experiments in thermos-sized flasks.

1088: 873:). Nuclear explosions close enough to the ground to draw dirt and debris into their 7501: 7434: 7418: 7382: 7340: 7326: 7312: 7277: 7227: 7027: 6720: 6713: 6574: 6434: 6189: 6134: 4515: 4027:

Bans emplacement of nuclear weapons on the ocean floor outside territorial waters.

3893: 3580: 3396: 3209:, the largest nuclear weapon ever tested. The United States responded in 1962 with 3186: 3106: 3102: 741: 343: 3361: 7633: 7577: 7543: 7517: 7185: 7085: 6999: 6992: 6882:

Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization

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A summary table of all the nuclear testing that has happened since 1945 is here:

3661: 3506: 3157: 3081: 1142: 979: 960:, and charged particles resulting from the blast can cross hemispheres following 878: 689:. Such tests have resulted until 2020 in up to 2.4 million people dying from its 348: 88: 5775:"Supercomputers offer tools for nuclear testing — and solving nuclear mysteries" 3822:

Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

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to conduct "virtual" testing, but codes need to be validated against test data.

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The Woodrow Wilson Center's Nuclear Proliferation International History Project

6797: 6218:"Radioactive Fallout - Worldwide Effects of Nuclear War - Historical Documents" 5538: 5242: 5080: 4572: 4496: 3762: 3489: 3458:. Others include rocket tests and peaceful-use explosions at various sites in 3253: 3153: 3084:, which was not well understood by the project scientists until well after the 2915:

Expected to be a plutonium subcritical test with a scaled-down warhead mockup.

1175: 874: 757: 737: 717: 690: 686: 536: 353: 177: 125: 55: 35: 6901: 6317: 6283:"Blasts from the Past: Old Nuke Test Films Offer New Insights [Video]" 5701: 5658: 5640: 5619: 4544:: Decades later, Russia offered compensation to veterans who were part of the 3817:

China, and North Korea have never signed the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

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as a result of a scenario of a concentrated number of nuclear explosions in a

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Not even a subcritical, contained no plutonium; a dress rehearsal for Pollux.

897:, which banned this class of testing along with exoatmospheric and underwater. 7683: 7592: 7464: 7178: 7162: 6886: 6869: 6626: 6586: 6544: 5688: 5553: 5015: 4580: 4205:

Bans nuclear weapons in South Pacific Ocean and islands. US never ratified.

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The first nuclear device was detonated as a test by the United States at the

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Controlled detonation of nuclear weapons for scientific or political purposes

6691:"The Status of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Signatories and Ratifiers" 5192:

First "staged" thermonuclear weapon test by the People's Republic of China.

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First (successful) "staged" thermonuclear weapon test by the United Kingdom

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Limits strategic arms. Kept but not ratified by the US, abrogated in 1986.

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First "staged" thermonuclear weapon test by the Soviet Union (deployable).

4947: 4623: 4441:

Reduces warheads to 1700–2200 in ten years. Expired, replaced by START II.

3467: 3442: 3370: 3273: 3257: 3145: 3137: 3076:

was feasible, and to give an idea of what the actual size and effects of a

3069: 3053: 3033: 1057: 842: 749: 709: 39: 6323: 4966:

accident occurred. Largest nuclear detonation conducted by United States.

4563:

The following list is of milestone nuclear explosions. In addition to the

756:

on October 30, 1961, with the largest yield ever seen, an estimated 50–58

7582: 7485: 7444: 6798:"Pakistan Nuclear Weapons: A Brief History of Pakistan's Nuclear Program" 4146: 3750: 3741: 3675: 3415: 3032:(foreground) in Hong Kong Harbor in 1967, was involved in several famous 1107: 1019:, which together constitute a single test), the lists are of explosions. 882: 803: 772: 694: 6962: 4417:). US has signed and adheres to the treaty, though has not ratified it. 1127:

with a variety of fissile material compositions, densities, shapes, and

7454: 7259: 5427: 5275: 5113: 4657: 4519: 4500: 3828:

The following is a list of the treaties applicable to nuclear testing:

3770: 3746: 3572: 3514: 3471: 3463: 3419: 3206: 3182: 3122: 1103: 957: 866: 745: 713: 6148: 5996: 3169: 5476: – Nuclear detonations in the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere 4962:

First "staged" thermonuclear weapon using dry fusion fuel. A serious

4678: 4004:

Bans the proliferation of nuclear technology to non-nuclear nations.

3793:

There are many existing anti-nuclear explosion treaties, notably the

3498: 45:

test in 1954, the largest nuclear weapons test ever conducted by the

6139: 6046: 5937:

Papazian, Ghazar R.; Reinovsky, Robert E.; Beatty, Jerry N. (2003).

7140: 6724: 5711:. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. Archived from 5307: 4883: 4845: 4326: 3648: 3633:: Six underground explosions (including the first one in 1974), at 3611: 3561: 3411: 3404: 3242: 3237:

of 1996, which has not, as of 2013, been ratified by eight of the "

3126: 3040: 908: 763:

With the advent of nuclear technology and its increasing impact an

733: 6778:"Troops Who Cleaned Up Radioactive Islands Can't Get Medical Care" 5480:

Historical nuclear weapons stockpiles and nuclear tests by country

4487:, various studies were done to assess the extent of the hazard. A 5794:"Supercomputers can't perfectly simulate nuclear blasts: Experts" 5398:

First "staged" thermonuclear weapon test claimed by North Korea.

4702: 4640:

First fission-device test, first plutonium implosion detonation.

4446: 4257: 3754: 3634: 3603: 3576: 3565: 3553: 3475: 3178: 3132: 929: 917: 721: 6849:

Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons

6843:

https://nyupress.org/9781479815340/downwind-of-the-atomic-state/

5556: – 1961 nuclear test explosion in New Mexico, United States 3867:

USSR unilaterally stops testing provided the West does as well.

3005:

Plutonium subcritical test designed to measure ejecta emission.

328: 6903:"Time-lapse map of all nuclear weapon tests from 1945 to 1998." 6250:"United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992" 5736:

Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl; Richards, Paul R.

5702:

U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (October 1989).

5547: – Process by which nuclear WMDs are designed and produced 4983: 4915: 3568: 3540: 3459: 3423: 3407: 3304: 3222: 1141:

are any type of tests involving nuclear materials and possibly

978:), or to evaluate potential sea-based nuclear weapons (such as 871:

List of nuclear weapons tests#Tests of live warheads on rockets

705:

publicly declared their nuclear status through a nuclear test.

6829:

Nuclear Rites: A Weapons Laboratory at the End of the Cold War

3571:, and nuclear atmospheric and underground tests at and around 3072:". The test was originally to confirm that the implosion-type 2935:

Plutonium subcritical test with a scaled down warhead mockup.

6922: 5160:

First fission-weapon test by the People's Republic of China.

4930:

First fusion-weapon test by the Soviet Union (not "staged").

4747: 4727: 4682: 4414: 3981:

Bans testing in South America and the Caribbean Sea Islands.

3761:

While nuclear weapons testing did not produce scenarios like

3625: 3594: 3092: 63: 5966:

Thorn, Robert N.; Westervelt, Donald R. (February 1, 1987).

5565: – "Spikes" emanating from suspended nuclear explosions 5360:

First fission-weapon test by North Korea (plutonium-based).

4094:

Promises to make all efforts to promote security and peace.

5838:

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Issues and Arguments

4298:

Allows for unencumbered surveillance over all signatories.

6912: 6602:"Resuming Nuclear Testing a Slap in the Face to Survivors" 6047:"U.S. Sneaks in 'Vega,' Its 28th Subcritical Nuclear Test" 2912:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2855:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2804:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2753:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2703:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2653:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2603:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2552:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2501:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2449:

1,222 metres (4,009 ft) and 190 metres (620 ft)

2398: