Nuclear weapon effects
Thermal Radiation
The intense pulse of light and infrared radiation emitted by the fireball of a nuclear detonation, capable of causing burns and igniting fires at long distances.
Thermal radiation accounts for roughly 35% of the energy released by a nuclear weapon. It travels at the speed of light and arrives before the blast wave. Third-degree burns can occur out to several kilometers for strategic-yield weapons. Thermal-radiation radius scales with yield to the 0.41 power, faster than blast.
Related terms
Fireball
The sphere of plasma created by a nuclear detonation, with internal temperatures exceeding 10 million °C — hotter than the surface of the Sun.
Air Burst
A nuclear detonation above the ground at optimal altitude, maximizing the area affected by blast and thermal radiation while producing minimal fallout.
Second-Degree Burns
Partial-thickness burns affecting both the epidermis and dermis, characterized by blistering and pain.