Page 9 - Lesson 12.xps

Module -V
Nuclear Warfare
Warfare and
• The development of latent symptoms such as loss of hair and appetite, Its Types

sore throat, fever, hemorrhages, prolonged incapacitation or death.
• Radiation Sickness: The human body has some ability to repair the damage
caused by radiation but this is not complete. Radiation doses have a cumulative
effect. A person receiving a dose of 100 centi Grays (cGys) on three occasions
accumulates a total of 300 cGys (Gray is the unit of measure of nuclear radiation.
Note
It is also called rads). The damage and symptoms, however, depend not only on
the dose but also on the rate of receipt each time and the interval between
exposures. Individuals are affected by radiation to different degrees, hence
radiation dose figures should only be regarded as a guide: -
• Below 150 cGys - no long term effects for most personnel.

• From 150 to 450 cGys - some incapacitation with possible death.
• From 450 to 800 cGys - incapacitation and death most likely in the ensuing
weeks.

• Above 800 cGys - severe incapacitation and certain death.

12.5.3 Radiation Effects on Electronics

The initial radiation pulse mainly consists of gamma rays and neutron flux. When they
directly interact with electronic components, a phenomenon called Transient Radiation
Effect on Electronics (TREE) occurs. The pulse of high-energy gamma rays lasts for a
fraction of a second. It may destroy semiconductor devices by direct interaction. The
neutron flux accompanying the gamma rays can affect semiconductors by changing
their electrical characteristics such that performance is temporarily or permanently
altered.

12.5.4 Electromagnetic Phenomena

Electromagnetic phenomena are immediate effects of a high altitude airburst or air
burst. They can be divided into following categories: -

• Atmospheric Ionization: A nuclear explosion causes ionization of the
atmospheric layers and changes their electrical characteristics. This disturbs the
transmission of electromagnetic waves from radio and radar equipment, which
pass through these disturbed areas. Periods of disruption may be short (a few
seconds), but some systems could be blacked out for several hours until earth's
magnetic field returns to normal.
• Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP): EMP is a very powerful burst of broadband

radio energy of very short duration. It is harmless to man. The very high energy
associated with EMP can cause damage to electrical and electronic equipment,

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MILITARY STUDIES 33