Worldwide Effects of Nuclear War: Some Perspectives

A scientific publication produced by the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in the mid-1970s. This document seeks to explore the long-term global consequences of nuclear warfare, going beyond the immediate effects felt by countries directly targeted by nuclear weapons. It provides a synthesized view of the various potential impacts of nuclear detonations, including radioactive fallout and alterations in the global environment. The book discusses the mechanics of nuclear explosions and their extensive repercussions, such as local and worldwide radioactive fallout, and environmental alterations caused by high-altitude dust and ozone layer depletion. It highlights how a large-scale nuclear conflict could yield severe global consequences, affecting agricultural productivity due to temperature changes, potential increases in skin cancer rates due to ozone depletion, and other complex interactions that might jeopardize the health of ecosystems and human populations far removed from the initial strikes. The document serves as both a warning and a call for awareness around the unpredictable long-term effects of nuclear warfare on humanity and the planet.