Point blast theory

The ejected plume has been compared to a microexplosion that produces shock waves in the surrounding gaseous media which have been used to classify the explosion and discuss the released energy [201-203]. The observed shock waves resemble explosively formed blast waves, which can be analyzed with point blast theory or may necessitate the use of a theory that includes the source mass of the explosion close to the polymer surface. 

For both the 50 and 250 mj cm 2 laser fluence cases, the blast wave propagation distances observed are within an order of magnitude of the minimum propagation radius for a point blast theory. Thus, the blast waves are still developing during these observations so any calculations of the... 

Korobeinikov VP (1991) Problems of point blast theory. Institute of Physics, New York... 

Opponents of the nuclear winter theory argue that there are many problems with the hypothesized scenarios either because of the model s incorrect assumptions (e.g., the results would be right only if exactly the assumed amount of dust would enter the atmosphere, or because the model assumes uniformly distributed, constantly injected particles). Other critics of the nuclear winter scenario point out that the models used often to not include processes and/or feedback mechanisms that may moderate or mitigate the initial effects of nuclear blasts on the atmosphere (e.g., the moderating effects of the oceans). 

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