Jump to content

Soviet Project K nuclear tests: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Sweep of table data
m Changed 'cite web' to 'cite report'
 
(45 intermediate revisions by 32 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|1961–1962 series of Soviet weaponry tests}}
{{Infobox Nuclear weapons test
{{See also|List of nuclear weapons tests of the Soviet Union}}
{{redirect|K Project|other uses|K Project (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox nuclear weapons test
|name = K project
|name = K project
|picture =
|picture =
|picture_description =
|picture_description =
|country = Soviet Union
|country = [[Soviet Union]]
|test_site = Karagandy, Kazakhstan
|test_site = [[Karaganda]], Kazakhstan
|period = 1961-1962
|period = 1961–1962
|number_of_tests = 5
|number_of_tests = 5
|test_type = dry surface, space rocket (> 80 km)
|test_type = dry surface, space rocket (> 80 km)
Line 12: Line 15:
|next_series = [[1962 Soviet nuclear tests]]
|next_series = [[1962 Soviet nuclear tests]]
}}
}}

{{GeoGroup|article=Soviet Project K nuclear tests}}
{{GeoGroup|article=Soviet Project K nuclear tests}}


The '''Soviet Union's K project nuclear test series'''<ref name=LT_1 /> was a group of 5 [[nuclear test]]s conducted in 1961-1962. These tests followed the ''[[1961 Soviet nuclear tests]]'' series and preceded the ''[[1962 Soviet nuclear tests]]'' series.
The '''Soviet Union's K project nuclear test series'''<ref name=LT_1 /> ({{lang-ru|Операция «К»|Operatsiya "[[Ka (Cyrillic)|Ka]]"}}) was a group of five [[nuclear test]]s conducted in 1961–1962. These tests followed the [[1961 Soviet nuclear tests]] series and preceded the [[1962 Soviet nuclear tests]] series.


The K project nuclear testing series were all high altitude tests fired by missiles from the [[Kapustin Yar]] launch site in [[Russia]] across central [[Kazakhstan]] toward the Sary Shagan test range (see map below).
{{See also|List of nuclear weapons tests of the Soviet Union}}

Two of the tests were 1.2 kiloton [[warhead]]s tested in 1961. The remaining three tests were of 300 kiloton warheads in 1962.

== Electromagnetic pulse ==

The worst effects of a Soviet high altitude test were from the [[Nuclear electromagnetic pulse|electromagnetic pulse]] of the nuclear test on 22 October 1962 (during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]). In that Operation K high altitude test, a 300 [[TNT equivalent|kiloton]] missile-warhead detonated west of [[Jezkazgan]] (also called Dzhezkazgan or Zhezqazghan) at an altitude of {{convert|290|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

The Soviet scientists instrumented a {{convert|570|km|mi|adj=on|sp=us}} section of telephone line in the area that they expected to be affected by the nuclear detonation in order to measure the electromagnetic pulse effects.<ref name="greetsai">{{cite journal|last=Greetsai|first=Vasily N.|author2=Kozlovsky, A.H. |author3=Kuvshinnikov, V.M. |author4=Loborev, V.M. |author5=Parfenov, Y.V. |author6=Tarasov, O.A. |author7= Zdoukhov, L.N. |title=Response of Long Lines to Nuclear High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP)|journal=IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility |date=November 1998 |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=348–354|doi=10.1109/15.736221}}</ref> The [[electromagnetic pulse]] (EMP) fused all of the 570-kilometer monitored overhead telephone line with measured currents of 1500 to 3400 [[ampere]]s during the 22 October 1962 test.<ref name="loborev">{{cite web|url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/News/Loborev.txt| title=US-Russian meeting – HEMP effects on national power grid & telecommunications|date=17 February 1995|first=Howard |last=Seguine|format=TXT|work=memorandum for record}}</ref> The monitored telephone line was divided into sub-lines of {{convert|40|to|80|km}} in length, separated by [[repeater]]s. Each sub-line was protected by [[Fuse (electrical)|fuses]] and by [[Gas-filled tube|gas-filled]] [[overvoltage]] protectors. The EMP from the 22 October (K-3) nuclear test caused all of the fuses to blow and all of the overvoltage protectors to fire in all of the sub-lines of the {{convert|570|km|abbr=on}} telephone line.<ref name="greetsai"/> The EMP from the same test caused the destruction of the [[Karaganda]] power plant, and shut down {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of shallow-buried [[electric power transmission|power cables]] between [[Astana]] (then called Aqmola) and [[Almaty]] (then called Alma-Ata).<ref name="loborev"/>

The [[Partial Test Ban Treaty]] was passed the following year, ending atmospheric and exoatmospheric nuclear tests.

[[File:ProjectK.png|right|560px|thumb|This map of Kazakhstan shows the missile flight path (in blue) for the K Project warhead-carrying missiles.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.unece.org/env/epr/epr_studies/kazakhstan.pdf |title=Environmental Performance Reviews: Kazakhstan. (First Review.) |publisher=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Committee on Environmental Policy |year=2000 |isbn=92-1-116770-1 |page=78 |accessdate=31 January 2010}}</ref> The nuclear missiles were launched from the [[Kapustin Yar]] site east of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) in the upper left part of the map. The red burst in the flight path west of Zhezqazghan is the detonation location of the K-3 nuclear test (Test 184). The detonation locations for the other tests have not been publicized, but from the published detonation altitudes and basic physics, it is known that the other K Project nuclear detonation locations were along the designated flight path between the K-3 detonation site and Saryshagan (at the eastern end of the designated flight path). The instrumented telephone line damaged in the K-3 test went from Zhezqazghan through Qaraghandy (Karaganda), northward to Aqmola (now called Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan) and ended at an unknown location just north of Aqmola.<ref name="greetsai"/>]]

==Aftereffects==

Although the weapons used in the K Project were much smaller (up to 300 kilotons) than the United States [[Starfish Prime]] test of 1962, the damage caused by the resulting EMP was much greater because the K Project tests were done over a large populated land mass, and at a location where the [[Earth's magnetic field]] was greater. After the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]], the level of this damage was communicated informally to scientists in the United States.<ref name="loborev"/>

After the 1991 Soviet Union collapse, there was a period of a few years of cooperation between United States and Russian scientists on the high-altitude nuclear EMP phenomenon. In addition, funding was secured to enable Russian scientists to formally report on some of the Soviet EMP results in international scientific journals.<ref name="combatwmd">Pfeffer, Robert and Shaeffer, D. Lynn. Combating WMD Journal, (2009) Issue 3. pp. 33-38. [http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a495245.pdf "A Russian Assessment of Several USSR and US HEMP Tests"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233322/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a495245.pdf |date=2013-12-30 }}</ref>&nbsp; As a result, formal scientific documentation of some of the EMP damage in Kazakhstan exists<ref name="greetsai"/><ref name="euroem">Loborev, Vladimir M. "Up to Date State of the NEMP Problems and Topical Research Directions," Electromagnetic Environments and Consequences: Proceedings of the EUROEM 94 International Symposium, Bordeaux, France, 30 May&nbsp;– 3 June 1994, pp. 15–21</ref> but is still sparse in the open scientific literature.

The 1998 IEEE article,<ref name="greetsai"/> however, does contain a number of details about the measurements of EMP effects on the instrumented {{convert|570|km|abbr=on}} telephone line, including details about the fuses that were used and also about the gas-filled overvoltage protectors that were used on that communications line. According to that paper, the gas-filled overvoltage protectors fired as a result of the voltages induced by the fast E1 component of the EMP, and the fuses were blown as the result of the slow E3 component of the EMP, which caused [[geomagnetically induced currents]] in all of the sub-lines.

The Aqmola (now [[Astana]]) to Almaty buried power cable was also shut down by the slow E3 component of the EMP.<ref name="loborev"/>

Published reports, including the 1998 IEEE article,<ref name="greetsai"/> have stated that there were significant problems with ceramic insulators on overhead electrical power lines during the tests of the K Project. In 2010, a technical report written for a United States government laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, stated, "Power line insulators were damaged, resulting in a short circuit on the line and some lines detaching from the poles and falling to the ground."<ref>{{cite book|volume=Report Meta-R-320|title=The Early-Time (E1) High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Its Impact on the U.S. Power Grid." Section 3&nbsp;– E1 HEMP History|date=January 2010|author=Metatech Corporation|publisher=[[Oak Ridge National Laboratory]]|url=https://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/reliability/cybersecurity/ferc_meta-r-320.pdf|access-date=2017-12-06|archive-date=2017-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520145500/https://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/reliability/cybersecurity/ferc_meta-r-320.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 24: Line 50:
!style="background:#ffdead;" | Name <ref group=note>The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions &ndash; Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 &ndash; 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" | Name <ref group=note>The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions &ndash; Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 &ndash; 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" | Date time ([[Universal Time|UT]])
!style="background:#efefef;" | Date time ([[Universal Time|UT]])
!style="background:#ffdead;" | Local [[Time Zone|time zone]] <ref group=note>To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight savings time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. All historical timezone data are derived from here:</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Timezone Historical Database| publisher=iana.com| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/| accessdate=2014 March 08}}</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" | Local [[Time Zone|time zone]]<ref group=note>To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the [[tz database|IANA time zone database]].</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Time Zone Historical Database| publisher=iana.com| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/| accessdate=March 8, 2014}}</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" | [[List of nuclear test sites|Location]] <ref group=note>Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" | [[List of nuclear test sites|Location]]<ref group=note>Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" | [[Elevation]] + height <ref group=note>Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, ''Plumbbob/John''. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" | [[Elevation]] + height <ref group=note>Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, ''Plumbbob/John''. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery, <ref group=note>Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the [[Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty]]. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.</ref><br />Purpose <ref group=note>Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery, <ref group=note>Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the [[Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty]]. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.</ref><br />Purpose <ref group=note>Includes weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" | [[List of nuclear weapons|Device]] <ref group=note>Designations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" | [[Nuclear weapon yield|Yield]]<ref group=note>Estimated energy yield in [[TNT equivalent|tons, kilotons, and megatons]]. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184&nbsp;gigajoules (1&nbsp;gigacalorie).</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" | [[Nuclear weapon yield|Yield]] <ref group=note>Estimated energy yield in [[TNT equivalent|tons, kilotons, and megatons]]. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184&nbsp;gigajoules (1&nbsp;gigacalorie).</ref>
!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | [[Nuclear fallout|Fallout]] <ref group=note>Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radiation released.</ref>
!style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References
!style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References
!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes
!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
! ''127 K2 (Joe 109)''{{anchor|127 K2 (Joe 109)}}
! ''127 K2 (Joe 109)''{{anchor|127 K2 (Joe 109)}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1961|10|27}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|format=dmy|1961|10|27}}
| style="text-align:center;" | ALMT (6&nbsp;hrs)<br /> || Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan: 1 {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_127 K2 (Joe 109)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.408|72.237|name=127 K2 (Joe 109)|display=inline}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | ALMT (6&nbsp;hrs)<br /> || Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan: 1 {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_127 K2 (Joe 109)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.408|72.237|name=127 K2 (Joe 109)|display=inline}}
| {{sort|180000|}}N/A + {{convert|180|km}}
| {{sort|180000|}}N/A + {{convert|180|km}}
| space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km),<br />weapon effect
| rowspan="3" | space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km),<br />weapon effect
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000012000|1.2&nbsp;kt}}
|
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="LT_1" /><ref name="LT_228" /><ref name="LT_147" /><ref name="LT_99" /><ref name="LT_31" /><ref name="LT_19" />
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000012000|1.2&nbsp;kt}}
| First Soviet space test. Unknown where K2 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point. Effects on System A prototype ABM.
|
| <ref name=LT_228 /><ref name=LT_147 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_1 />
| First Soviet space test. Unknown where K2 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shaga, the missile target point. Effects on System A prototype ABM.
|-
|-
! ''128 K1 (Joe 105)''{{anchor|128 K1 (Joe 105)}}
! ''128 K1 (Joe 105)''{{anchor|128 K1 (Joe 105)}}
| Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan: 3 {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_128 K1 (Joe 105)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.7|69.6|name=128 K1 (Joe 105)|display=inline}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1961|10|27}}
| style="text-align:center;" | ALMT (6&nbsp;hrs)<br /> || Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan: 3 {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_128 K1 (Joe 105)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.7|69.6|name=128 K1 (Joe 105)|display=inline}}
| {{sort|300000|}}N/A + {{convert|300|km}}
| {{sort|300000|}}N/A + {{convert|300|km}}
| space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km),<br />weapon effect
|
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000012000|1.2&nbsp;kt}}
|
| <ref name=LT_228 /><ref name=LT_147 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_1 />
| Unknown where K1 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point. Effects on System A prototype ABM. The CIA says Joe 105 was on 10/21, hence the number, but apparently is in error.
| Unknown where K1 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point. Effects on System A prototype ABM. The CIA says Joe 105 was on 10/21, hence the number, but apparently is in error.
|-
|-
! ''184 K3 (Joe 157)''{{anchor|184 K3 (Joe 157)}}
! ''184 K3 (Joe 157)''{{anchor|184 K3 (Joe 157)}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|10|22}} 03:40:45|| Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_184 K3 (Joe 157)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|47.76469|63.95136|name=184 K3 (Joe 157)|display=inline}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|10|22}} 03:40:45
| style="text-align:center;" | ALMT (6&nbsp;hrs)<br /> || Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_184 K3 (Joe 157)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|47.76469|63.95136|name=184 K3 (Joe 157)|display=inline}}
| {{sort|290000|}}N/A + {{convert|290|km}}
| {{sort|290000|}}N/A + {{convert|290|km}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003000000|300&nbsp;kt}}
| space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km),<br />weapon effect
| <ref name=LT_1 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_211 /><ref name=LT_36 />
|
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003000000|300&nbsp;kt}}
|
| <ref name=LT_211 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_36 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_1 />
| Exploded short of target above Sary Shagan, west of Dzhezkazgan (or Zhezqazghan). EMP ran to thousands of amps, damaged at least 570 km of telephone lines, 1000 km of buried power lines, and caused the destruction of the Karaganda power plant.
| Exploded short of target above Sary Shagan, west of Dzhezkazgan (or Zhezqazghan). EMP ran to thousands of amps, damaged at least 570 km of telephone lines, 1000 km of buried power lines, and caused the destruction of the Karaganda power plant.
|-
|-
! ''187 K4 (Joe 160)''{{anchor|187 K4 (Joe 160)}}
! ''187 K4 (Joe 160)''{{anchor|187 K4 (Joe 160)}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|10|28}} 04:41:20|| Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_187 K4 (Joe 160)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.72983|71.56304|name=187 K4 (Joe 160)|display=inline}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|10|28}} 04:41:20
| style="text-align:center;" | ALMT (6&nbsp;hrs)<br /> || Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_187 K4 (Joe 160)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.72983|71.56304|name=187 K4 (Joe 160)|display=inline}}
| {{sort|150000|}}N/A + {{convert|150|km}}
| {{sort|150000|}}N/A + {{convert|150|km}}
| space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km),<br />weapons development
| space rocket (>&nbsp;80&nbsp;km),<br />weapons development
| <ref name=LT_1 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_211 /><ref name=LT_36 />
|
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003000000|300&nbsp;kt}}
|
| <ref name=LT_211 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_36 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_1 />
| Unknown where K4 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above [[Sary Shagan]], the missile target point.
| Unknown where K4 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above [[Sary Shagan]], the missile target point.
|-
|-
! ''195 K5 (Joe 168)''{{anchor|195 K5 (Joe 168)}}
! ''195 K5 (Joe 168)''{{anchor|195 K5 (Joe 168)}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|11|1}} 09:12:??|| Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_195 K5 (Joe 168)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.3298|72.77929|name=195 K5 (Joe 168)|display=inline}}
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|11|1}} 09:12:??
| style="text-align:center;" | ALMT (6&nbsp;hrs)<br /> || Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan {{coord|48.56956|45.90346|name=Launch_195 K5 (Joe 168)|display=inline}}, elv: {{convert|0|+|0|m|abbr=on}};<br />Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan {{coord|46.3298|72.77929|name=195 K5 (Joe 168)|display=inline}}
| {{sort|059000|}}N/A + {{convert|59|km}}
| {{sort|059000|}}N/A + {{convert|59|km}}
| dry surface,<br />weapons development
| dry surface,<br />weapons development
| <ref name=LT_1 /><ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_62 />
|
| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|003000000|300&nbsp;kt}}
|
| <ref name=LT_99 /><ref name=LT_62 /><ref name=LT_31 /><ref name=LT_19 /><ref name=LT_1 />
| Unknown where K5 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point.
| Unknown where K5 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point.
|}
|}

{{collapse top| title='''Table notes:'''|bg=#ffdead}}
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{collapse bottom}}

== Electromagnetic pulse ==

The worst effects of a Soviet high altitude test were from the [[Nuclear electromagnetic pulse|electromagnetic pulse]] of the nuclear test on 22 October 1962 (during the [[Cuban missile crisis]]). In that Operation K high altitude test, a 300 [[TNT equivalent|kiloton]] missile-warhead detonated west of [[Jezkazgan]] (also called Dzhezkazgan or Zhezqazghan) at an altitude of {{convert|290|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

The Soviet scientists instrumented a {{convert|570|km|mi|adj=on|sp=us}} section of telephone line in the area that they expected to be affected by the nuclear detonation in order to measure the electromagnetic pulse effects.<ref name="greetsai">{{cite journal|last=Greetsai|first=Vasily N.|author2=Kozlovsky, A.H. |author3=Kuvshinnikov, V.M. |author4=Loborev, V.M. |author5=Parfenov, Y.V. |author6=Tarasov, O.A. |author7= Zdoukhov, L.N. |title=Response of Long Lines to Nuclear High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP)|journal=IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility |date=November 1998 |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=348–354|doi=10.1109/15.736221}}</ref> The [[electromagnetic pulse]] (EMP) fused all of the 570-kilometer monitored overhead telephone line with measured currents of 1500 to 3400 [[ampere]]s during the 22 October 1962 test.<ref name="loborev">{{cite web|url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/News/Loborev.txt| title=US-Russian meeting – HEMP effects on national power grid & telecommunications|date=17 February 1995|first=Howard |last=Seguine|format=TXT|work=memorandum for record}}</ref> The monitored telephone line was divided into sub-lines of {{convert|40|to|80|km}} in length, separated by [[repeater]]s. Each sub-line was protected by [[Fuse (electrical)|fuses]] and by [[Gas-filled tube|gas-filled]] [[overvoltage]] protectors. The EMP from the 22 October (K-3) nuclear test caused all of the fuses to blow and all of the overvoltage protectors to fire in all of the sub-lines of the {{convert|570|km|abbr=on}} telephone line.<ref name="greetsai"/> The EMP from the same test caused the destruction of the [[Karaganda]] power plant, and shut down {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of shallow-buried [[electric power transmission|power cables]] between [[Astana]] (then called Aqmola) and [[Almaty]].<ref name="loborev"/>

The [[Partial Test Ban Treaty]] was passed the following year, ending atmospheric and exoatmospheric nuclear tests.

[[File:ProjectK.png|right|560px|border|thumb|This map of Kazakhstan shows the missile flight path (in blue) for the K Project warhead-carrying missiles.<ref>{{cite book|author=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Committee on Environmental Policy|title= Environmental Performance Reviews: Kazakhstan. (First Review.)|year=2000| page=78|url=http://www.unece.org/env/epr/epr_studies/kazakhstan.pdf|isbn=92-1-116770-1|accessdate=31 January 2010}}</ref> The nuclear missiles were launched from the [[Kapustin Yar]] site east of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) in the upper left part of the map. The red burst in the flight path west of Zhezqazghan is the detonation location of the K-3 nuclear test (Test 184). The detonation locations for the other tests have not been publicized, but from the published detonation altitudes and basic physics, it is known that the other K Project nuclear detonation locations were along the designated flight path between the K-3 detonation site and Saryshagan (at the eastern end of the designated flight path). The instrumented telephone line damaged in the K-3 test went from Zhezqazghan through Qaraghandy (Karaganda), northward to Aqmola (now called Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan) and ended at an unknown location just north of Aqmola.<ref name="greetsai"/>]]

==Aftereffects==

Although the weapons used in the K Project were much smaller (up to 300 kilotons) than the United States [[Starfish Prime]] test of 1962, the damage caused by the resulting EMP was much greater because the K Project tests were done over a large populated land mass, and at a location where the [[Earth's magnetic field]] was greater. After the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]], the level of this damage was communicated informally to scientists in the United States.<ref name="loborev"/>

After the 1991 Soviet Union collapse, there was a period of a few years of cooperation between United States and Russian scientists on the high-altitude nuclear EMP phenomenon. In addition, funding was secured to enable Russian scientists to formally report on some of the Soviet EMP results in international scientific journals.<ref name="combatwmd">Pfeffer, Robert and Shaeffer, D. Lynn. Combating WMD Journal, (2009) Issue 3. pp. 33-38. [http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a495245.pdf "A Russian Assessment of Several USSR and US HEMP Tests"]</ref>&nbsp; As a result, formal scientific documentation of some of the EMP damage in Kazakhstan exists<ref name="greetsai"/><ref name="euroem">Loborev, Vladimir M. "Up to Date State of the NEMP Problems and Topical Research Directions," Electromagnetic Environments and Consequences: Proceedings of the EUROEM 94 International Symposium, Bordeaux, France, 30 May&nbsp;– 3 June 1994, pp. 15–21</ref> but is still sparse in the open scientific literature.

The 1998 IEEE article,<ref name="greetsai"/> however, does contain a number of details about the measurements of EMP effects on the instrumented {{convert|570|km|abbr=on}} telephone line, including details about the fuses that were used and also about the gas-filled overvoltage protectors that were used on that communications line. According to that paper, the gas-filled overvoltage protectors fired as a result of the voltages induced by the fast E1 component of the EMP, and the fuses were blown as the result of the slow E3 component of the EMP, which caused [[geomagnetically induced currents]] in all of the sub-lines.

The Aqmola (Astana) to Almaty buried power cable was also shut down by the slow E3 component of the EMP.<ref name="loborev"/>

Published reports, including the 1998 IEEE article,<ref name="greetsai"/> have stated that there were significant problems with ceramic insulators on overhead electrical power lines during the tests of the K Project. In 2010, a technical report written for a United States government laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, stated, "Power line insulators were damaged, resulting in a short circuit on the line and some lines detaching from the poles and falling to the ground."<ref>{{cite book|volume=Report Meta-R-320|title=The Early-Time (E1) High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Its Impact on the U.S. Power Grid." Section 3&nbsp;– E1 HEMP History|date= January 2010|author= Metatech Corporation |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/ees/etsd/pes/pubs/ferc_Meta-R-320.pdf}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=LT_19>{{cite web| publisher=RFNC-VNIIEF| year=1998| title=USSR Nuclear Tests, Hydronuclear Experiments, Plutonium Inventory| location=Sarov, Russia}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_19>{{cite report| publisher=RFNC-VNIIEF| year=1998| title=USSR Nuclear Tests, Hydronuclear Experiments, Plutonium Inventory| location=Sarov, Russia}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_31>{{cite book| editor-last=Podvig| editor-first=Pavel| year=2001| title=Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces| publisher=MIT Press| location=Cambridge, MA| url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CPRVbYDc-7kC&lpg=PA453&ots=vJQN2EUtRk&f=false| accessdate=2014 January 09}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_31>{{cite book| editor-last=Podvig| editor-first=Pavel| year=2001| title=Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces| publisher=[[MIT Press]]| location=Cambridge, MA| isbn=9780262661812| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CPRVbYDc-7kC&pg=PA453| accessdate=January 9, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_99>{{cite web| last=Emanuelson| first=Jerry| title=Test 184| url=http://www.futurescience.com/emp/test184.html| accessdate=2013 December 13}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_99>{{cite web| last=Emanuelson| first=Jerry| title=Test 184| url=http://www.futurescience.com/emp/test184.html| accessdate=December 13, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_147>{{cite book| last=Zaloga| first=Steven J.| year=2002| title=The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword: The Rise and Fall of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces, 1945-2000| publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press| location=Washington, DC}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_147>{{cite book| last=Zaloga| first=Steven J.| year=2002| title=The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword: The Rise and Fall of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces, 1945–2000| publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press| location=Washington, DC |isbn=1-58834-007-4 }}</ref>
<ref name=LT_228>{{cite techreport|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency| series=National Intelligence Estimate 11-2A-62| url=http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/89801/DOC_0000843187.pdf|title=Soviet Atomic Energy Program| accessdate=201 August 12| date=1962 May 16}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_228>{{cite tech report|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]| series=National Intelligence Estimate 11-2A-62| url=http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/89801/DOC_0000843187.pdf|title=Soviet Atomic Energy Program| accessdate=March 1, 2015| date=May 16, 1962}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_1>{{cite techreport| last1=Yang| first1=Xiaoping| first2=Robert| last2=North| first3=Carl| last3=Romney|date=August 2000| title=CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3)| publisher=SMDC Monitoring Research}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_1>{{cite tech report| last1=Yang| first1=Xiaoping| first2=Robert| last2=North| first3=Carl| last3=Romney|date=August 2000| title=CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3)| publisher=SMDC Monitoring Research}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_36>{{cite book| last1=Cochran| first1=Thomas B.| last2=Arkin| first2=William M.| first3=Robert S.| last3=Norris| first4=Jeffrey I.| last4=Sands| title=Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons| publisher=Harper and Row| location=New York, NY}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_36>{{cite book| last1=Cochran| first1=Thomas B.| last2=Arkin| first2=William M.| first3=Robert S.| last3=Norris| first4=Jeffrey I.| last4=Sands| title=Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons| publisher=Harper and Row| location=New York, NY}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_211>{{cite journal| last1=Haave| first1=C. R.| first2=A. J.| last2=Zmuda| first3=B. W.| last3=Shaw| year=1965| title=Very low-frequency phase perturbations and the Soviet high-altitude nuclear bursts of October 22 and 28, 1962| journal=Journal of Geophysical Research| volume=70| page=4191| doi=10.1029/jz070i017p04191}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_211>{{cite journal| last1=Haave| first1=C. R.| first2=A. J.| last2=Zmuda| first3=B. W.| last3=Shaw| year=1965| title=Very low-frequency phase perturbations and the Soviet high-altitude nuclear bursts of October 22 and 28, 1962| journal=Journal of Geophysical Research| volume=70| issue=17| pages=4191–4206| doi=10.1029/jz070i017p04191| bibcode=1965JGR....70.4191H}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_62>{{cite journal| last1=Zmuda| first1=A. J.| first2=C. R.| last2=Haave| first3=B. W.| last3=Shaw| year=1966| title=VLF phase perturbations produced by the Soviet high-altitude nuclear explosion of November 1, 1962| journal=Journal of Geophysical Research| volume=71| pages=899ff}}</ref>
<ref name=LT_62>{{cite journal| last1=Zmuda| first1=A. J.| first2=C. R.| last2=Haave| first3=B. W.| last3=Shaw| year=1966| title=VLF phase perturbations produced by the Soviet high-altitude nuclear explosion of November 1, 1962| journal=Journal of Geophysical Research| volume=71| issue=3| pages=899–910|doi=10.1029/jz071i003p00899| bibcode=1966JGR....71..899Z}}</ref>
}}
}}


Line 132: Line 111:
[[Category:1961 in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1961 in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1962 in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1962 in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1961 in military history]]
[[Category:1962 in military history]]
[[Category:Explosions in 1961]]
[[Category:Explosions in 1962]]
[[Category:October 1961 events in Asia]]
[[Category:October 1962 events in Asia]]
[[Category:November 1962 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Energy weapons]]
[[Category:Energy weapons]]
[[Category:Exoatmospheric nuclear weapons testing]]
[[Category:Exoatmospheric nuclear weapons testing]]

Latest revision as of 23:24, 1 September 2024

K project
Information
LandSoviet Union
Test siteKaraganda, Kazakhstan
Period1961–1962
Number of tests5
Test typedry surface, space rocket (> 80 km)
Max. yield300 kilotonnes of TNT (1,300 TJ)
Test series chronology

The Soviet Union's K project nuclear test series[1] (Russian: Операция «К», romanizedOperatsiya "Ka") was a group of five nuclear tests conducted in 1961–1962. These tests followed the 1961 Soviet nuclear tests series and preceded the 1962 Soviet nuclear tests series.

The K project nuclear testing series were all high altitude tests fired by missiles from the Kapustin Yar launch site in Russia across central Kazakhstan toward the Sary Shagan test range (see map below).

Two of the tests were 1.2 kiloton warheads tested in 1961. The remaining three tests were of 300 kiloton warheads in 1962.

Electromagnetic pulse

[edit]

The worst effects of a Soviet high altitude test were from the electromagnetic pulse of the nuclear test on 22 October 1962 (during the Cuban Missile Crisis). In that Operation K high altitude test, a 300 kiloton missile-warhead detonated west of Jezkazgan (also called Dzhezkazgan or Zhezqazghan) at an altitude of 290 km (180 mi).

The Soviet scientists instrumented a 570-kilometer (350 mi) section of telephone line in the area that they expected to be affected by the nuclear detonation in order to measure the electromagnetic pulse effects.[2] The electromagnetic pulse (EMP) fused all of the 570-kilometer monitored overhead telephone line with measured currents of 1500 to 3400 amperes during the 22 October 1962 test.[3] The monitored telephone line was divided into sub-lines of 40 to 80 kilometres (25 to 50 mi) in length, separated by repeaters. Each sub-line was protected by fuses and by gas-filled overvoltage protectors. The EMP from the 22 October (K-3) nuclear test caused all of the fuses to blow and all of the overvoltage protectors to fire in all of the sub-lines of the 570 km (350 mi) telephone line.[2] The EMP from the same test caused the destruction of the Karaganda power plant, and shut down 1,000 km (620 mi) of shallow-buried power cables between Astana (then called Aqmola) and Almaty (then called Alma-Ata).[3]

The Partial Test Ban Treaty was passed the following year, ending atmospheric and exoatmospheric nuclear tests.

This map of Kazakhstan shows the missile flight path (in blue) for the K Project warhead-carrying missiles.[4] The nuclear missiles were launched from the Kapustin Yar site east of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) in the upper left part of the map. The red burst in the flight path west of Zhezqazghan is the detonation location of the K-3 nuclear test (Test 184). The detonation locations for the other tests have not been publicized, but from the published detonation altitudes and basic physics, it is known that the other K Project nuclear detonation locations were along the designated flight path between the K-3 detonation site and Saryshagan (at the eastern end of the designated flight path). The instrumented telephone line damaged in the K-3 test went from Zhezqazghan through Qaraghandy (Karaganda), northward to Aqmola (now called Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan) and ended at an unknown location just north of Aqmola.[2]

Aftereffects

[edit]

Although the weapons used in the K Project were much smaller (up to 300 kilotons) than the United States Starfish Prime test of 1962, the damage caused by the resulting EMP was much greater because the K Project tests were done over a large populated land mass, and at a location where the Earth's magnetic field was greater. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the level of this damage was communicated informally to scientists in the United States.[3]

After the 1991 Soviet Union collapse, there was a period of a few years of cooperation between United States and Russian scientists on the high-altitude nuclear EMP phenomenon. In addition, funding was secured to enable Russian scientists to formally report on some of the Soviet EMP results in international scientific journals.[5]  As a result, formal scientific documentation of some of the EMP damage in Kazakhstan exists[2][6] but is still sparse in the open scientific literature.

The 1998 IEEE article,[2] however, does contain a number of details about the measurements of EMP effects on the instrumented 570 km (350 mi) telephone line, including details about the fuses that were used and also about the gas-filled overvoltage protectors that were used on that communications line. According to that paper, the gas-filled overvoltage protectors fired as a result of the voltages induced by the fast E1 component of the EMP, and the fuses were blown as the result of the slow E3 component of the EMP, which caused geomagnetically induced currents in all of the sub-lines.

The Aqmola (now Astana) to Almaty buried power cable was also shut down by the slow E3 component of the EMP.[3]

Published reports, including the 1998 IEEE article,[2] have stated that there were significant problems with ceramic insulators on overhead electrical power lines during the tests of the K Project. In 2010, a technical report written for a United States government laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, stated, "Power line insulators were damaged, resulting in a short circuit on the line and some lines detaching from the poles and falling to the ground."[7]

Soviet Union's K project series tests and detonations
Name [note 1] Date time (UT) Local time zone[note 2][8] Location[note 3] Elevation + height [note 4] Delivery, [note 5]
Purpose [note 6]
Yield[note 7] References Notes
127 K2 (Joe 109) 27 October 1961 ALMT (6 hrs)
Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan: 1 48°34′10″N 45°54′12″E / 48.56956°N 45.90346°E / 48.56956; 45.90346 (Launch_127 K2 (Joe 109)), elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft);
Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan 46°24′29″N 72°14′13″E / 46.408°N 72.237°E / 46.408; 72.237 (127 K2 (Joe 109))
N/A + 180 kilometres (110 mi) space rocket (> 80 km),
weapon effect
1.2 kt [1][9][10][11][12][13] First Soviet space test. Unknown where K2 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point. Effects on System A prototype ABM.
128 K1 (Joe 105) Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan: 3 48°34′10″N 45°54′12″E / 48.56956°N 45.90346°E / 48.56956; 45.90346 (Launch_128 K1 (Joe 105)), elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft);
Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan 46°42′N 69°36′E / 46.7°N 69.6°E / 46.7; 69.6 (128 K1 (Joe 105))
N/A + 300 kilometres (190 mi) Unknown where K1 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point. Effects on System A prototype ABM. The CIA says Joe 105 was on 10/21, hence the number, but apparently is in error.
184 K3 (Joe 157) 22 October 1962 03:40:45 Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48°34′10″N 45°54′12″E / 48.56956°N 45.90346°E / 48.56956; 45.90346 (Launch_184 K3 (Joe 157)), elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft);
Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan 47°45′53″N 63°57′05″E / 47.76469°N 63.95136°E / 47.76469; 63.95136 (184 K3 (Joe 157))
N/A + 290 kilometres (180 mi) 300 kt [1][11][12][13][14][15] Exploded short of target above Sary Shagan, west of Dzhezkazgan (or Zhezqazghan). EMP ran to thousands of amps, damaged at least 570 km of telephone lines, 1000 km of buried power lines, and caused the destruction of the Karaganda power plant.
187 K4 (Joe 160) 28 October 1962 04:41:20 Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48°34′10″N 45°54′12″E / 48.56956°N 45.90346°E / 48.56956; 45.90346 (Launch_187 K4 (Joe 160)), elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft);
Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan 46°43′47″N 71°33′47″E / 46.72983°N 71.56304°E / 46.72983; 71.56304 (187 K4 (Joe 160))
N/A + 150 kilometres (93 mi) space rocket (> 80 km),
weapons development
[1][11][12][13][14][15] Unknown where K4 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point.
195 K5 (Joe 168) 1 November 1962 09:12:?? Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48°34′10″N 45°54′12″E / 48.56956°N 45.90346°E / 48.56956; 45.90346 (Launch_195 K5 (Joe 168)), elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft);
Detonation over Karagandy, Kazakhstan 46°19′47″N 72°46′45″E / 46.3298°N 72.77929°E / 46.3298; 72.77929 (195 K5 (Joe 168))
N/A + 59 kilometres (37 mi) dry surface,
weapons development
[1][11][12][13][16] Unknown where K5 detonated except it was along a line from K3 explosion to a point high above Sary Shagan, the missile target point.
  1. ^ The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.
  2. ^ To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.
  3. ^ Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.
  4. ^ Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.
  5. ^ Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
  6. ^ Includes weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
  7. ^ Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl (August 2000). CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) (Technical report). SMDC Monitoring Research.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Greetsai, Vasily N.; Kozlovsky, A.H.; Kuvshinnikov, V.M.; Loborev, V.M.; Parfenov, Y.V.; Tarasov, O.A.; Zdoukhov, L.N. (November 1998). "Response of Long Lines to Nuclear High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP)". IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility. 40 (4): 348–354. doi:10.1109/15.736221.
  3. ^ a b c d Seguine, Howard (17 February 1995). "US-Russian meeting – HEMP effects on national power grid & telecommunications" (TXT). memorandum for record.
  4. ^ Environmental Performance Reviews: Kazakhstan. (First Review.) (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Committee on Environmental Policy. 2000. p. 78. ISBN 92-1-116770-1. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  5. ^ Pfeffer, Robert and Shaeffer, D. Lynn. Combating WMD Journal, (2009) Issue 3. pp. 33-38. "A Russian Assessment of Several USSR and US HEMP Tests" Archived 2013-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Loborev, Vladimir M. "Up to Date State of the NEMP Problems and Topical Research Directions," Electromagnetic Environments and Consequences: Proceedings of the EUROEM 94 International Symposium, Bordeaux, France, 30 May – 3 June 1994, pp. 15–21
  7. ^ Metatech Corporation (January 2010). The Early-Time (E1) High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Its Impact on the U.S. Power Grid." Section 3 – E1 HEMP History (PDF). Vol. Report Meta-R-320. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  8. ^ "Time Zone Historical Database". iana.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  9. ^ Soviet Atomic Energy Program (PDF) (Technical report). National Intelligence Estimate 11-2A-62. Central Intelligence Agency. May 16, 1962. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  10. ^ Zaloga, Steven J. (2002). The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword: The Rise and Fall of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces, 1945–2000. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-58834-007-4.
  11. ^ a b c d Emanuelson, Jerry. "Test 184". Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d Podvig, Pavel, ed. (2001). Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN 9780262661812. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d USSR Nuclear Tests, Hydronuclear Experiments, Plutonium Inventory (Report). Sarov, Russia: RFNC-VNIIEF. 1998.
  14. ^ a b Haave, C. R.; Zmuda, A. J.; Shaw, B. W. (1965). "Very low-frequency phase perturbations and the Soviet high-altitude nuclear bursts of October 22 and 28, 1962". Journal of Geophysical Research. 70 (17): 4191–4206. Bibcode:1965JGR....70.4191H. doi:10.1029/jz070i017p04191.
  15. ^ a b Cochran, Thomas B.; Arkin, William M.; Norris, Robert S.; Sands, Jeffrey I. Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons. New York, NY: Harper and Row.
  16. ^ Zmuda, A. J.; Haave, C. R.; Shaw, B. W. (1966). "VLF phase perturbations produced by the Soviet high-altitude nuclear explosion of November 1, 1962". Journal of Geophysical Research. 71 (3): 899–910. Bibcode:1966JGR....71..899Z. doi:10.1029/jz071i003p00899.