Kaboom!

[Zkribbler]

Even a small, regional nuke war could have catastrophic global consequences. Today, the L.A. Times carried a story arising out of a pair of papers published 11-22-06 on the website of the Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions online journal. LINK

I have yet to go through the articles, but according to the Times, an exchange of a few dozen warheads between India and Pakistan would cause a global smoke cloud affecting the food production for millions. Growing seasons could contract as much as a month. The affects could last up to 10 years. As many as 17 million Chinese could die.

Up until now, it was believed that only a global nuclear war could have such far reaching devastation.

Sleep tight, Poly tubbies.

[Dis]

first of all, if we are talking about tactical nukes (which is what those countries mostly have- do they even have any in the megaton range?), they won't do ****. We've already set off many nukes in the atmosphere in the 50's and 60's.

[MrFun]

Re: Kaboom!

Originally posted by Zkribbler
As many as 17 million Chinese could die.

[Cort Haus]

Seeing as Mutually-Assured-Destruction did the job for deterrence in the cold war, knowledge of this may not be such a bad thing.

Of course, if we are to have such a doomsday device, it is vitally important that everyone knows about it.

[germanos]

Did you really think a 'modest' nuclear exchange would have left you uneffected? Perhaps it's America's splendid isolation...
I have lived in the times when tactical nukes were supposed to be used a few hundred kilometers from here, so I'm not pariticularly unsettled by this 'news'.

Maybe it's time to make headway against nuclear proliferation?

Hollanditus is a persistant infection, wanna kiss?

[Cort Haus]

WTF Mr Fun?

[Cort Haus]

My point is, in essence, that if Iran knows that nuking Israel will f*ck Iran even without retaliation, it may have second thoughts.

[SlowwHand]

A few dozen? Yes, that should change some things alright.

[LordShiva]

Re: Kaboom!

Originally posted by Zkribbler
I have yet to go through the articles, but according to the Times, an exchange of a few dozen warheads between India and Pakistan would cause a global smoke cloud affecting the food production for millions.

Thankfully, an "exchange" would have to be two way, and we're not going to let that happen

[SlowwHand]

India could produce 200 interceptor missiles a year, at a cost of 60 million rupees (US$1.3 million) each, Saraswat said.

You know, after you get over the sticker shock, that's not a bad price. Lot of bang for the buck, so to speak.

[Zkribbler]

Yes...but can they hit anything??

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Yes...but can they hit anything??

His comments came a week after India's defense ministry said it had conducted its first successful test interception of a ballistic missile, using a rocket to shoot down an incoming missile. The missile was intercepted at an altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles).

[SlowwHand]

That's what they hope, I imagine.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Dis
first of all, if we are talking about tactical nukes (which is what those countries mostly have- do they even have any in the megaton range?), they won't do ****. We've already set off many nukes in the atmosphere in the 50's and 60's.

Yes, but they were set off in the wide open spaces.

The Times article points out that burning plastics throw out a lot of smoke, and that the production of plastics has doubled in the last two decades. It was the studies' discovery of the unexpected amount of smoke that led to the new conclusions of a global catastrophy.

[dannubis]

In 1986 a small reactor blew up in the iddle of Ukraine. The radioactive cloud reached the US two days later. And you guys think you would be affected by a nuclear exchange in India ?

Sweet dreams and repeat until true.