Ground burst, nuclear explosion

T,he size and mass frequency distributions of the particles in clouds from ground surface bursts have an essential bearing on predictions of the fallout field resulting from such nuclear explosions. Fallout models that are still in use employ size distributions which have been derived... 

Such large weapons cause the hot fireballs to rise into the stratosphere (NAS, 1975). A several fold increase in the penetration of ultraviolet radiation to the earth s surface would result. This was considered to be the main, long-term, global, atmospheric effect of a total nuclear war. By cursory comparison with the reported effects of major volcanic explosions, the production of dust from nuclear ground bursts was estimated to lead to rather insignificant changes in the earth s climate. 

Surface burst a nuclear weapon explosion that is close enough to the ground for the radius of the fireball to vaporize surface material fallout from a surface burst contains very high levels of radioactivity... 

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