If there was a nuclear war, how long would it take for the Earth to become liveable again?
I am making a game in which there was nuclear war in 2014, and the population was forced to live underground until the surface became livable again. So, if all of the world’s nuclear powers used their entire stocks, about when would the surface become livable again?
Thank you.
August 18th, 2010 at 11:58 am
lol, live under the ground, hahahahahahaha!!
August 18th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
It would not become unliveable, except in some areas. But a full-scale nuclear war is now out of the question; precision weapons have made the wholesale destruction of property unnecessary.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Here’s a good link:
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Effects/wenw_chp2.shtml
To quote:
“Most of the bomb-produced radionuclides decay rapidly. Even so, beyond the blast radius of the exploding weapons there would be areas (“hot spots”) the survivors could not enter because of radioactive contamination from long-lived radioactive isotopes like strontium-90 or cesium-137, which can be concentrated through the food chain and incorporated into the body. The damage caused would be internal, with the injurious effects appearing over many years. For the survivors of a nuclear war, this lingering radiation hazard could represent a grave threat for as long as 1 to 5 years after the attack.”
However, keep in mind that this refers only to the direct danger to humans on the surface. A big part of the question (and the link may answer this) is food. Even if it is safe to walk in a certain area after only 5 years, it probably would not be safe to eat crops grown on that land (as they may incorporate radioactive isotopes from the soil).
But that link should get you started.
Good luck with your game!
August 18th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
If all the atomic, nuclear, and thermonuclear weapons existing in the world to day were detonated in a war (about 22,000 warheads), the effect would obviously be catastrophic.
Here is a scenario of how an all out nuclear war might play out. — http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/nuclearwar1.html
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July 28th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Hi LisaVery happy to read about yourself. Reading the aconcuts of other people my story is entirly different. In the first sense you my feel like i am usless and not fit for this instument or music. i dont bother. i accept my defeat and the fate. intrest in guitar started at the age of 15. with my school fee i diverted some mony and i bought an old guitar with out the knowledge of my parents.(i am sorry for that). but with out somebody’s guidence it was impossible to learn guitar. Turning, strumming, freting the notes, playing the cords.. all were a hidden thing for me. i knocked many doors. but everyone need money. my family was poor that time. it was in 1970. No internet. no telephone, no television. I hope now you understnad how the surroundings blocked me in raising this talant. but i kept it as a dream. When ever i listen the songs i capture soon the sound of guitar and enjoy the music. in 1975 i came in kuwait. started working withlow wages. 1976 i bought a guitar. but the situation is same as in 1970. No money to spent, 1983 got married. 1990 father of 2 chirldren mean time i thought better to teach the children the music than i spend for myself .. because i love them .. i was happy when i see my younger daughter play organ and piano. now she is playing keyboard for a christian fellowship and praising lord. in her engineering college she was one of the stars. Formed her own music troops and staged many occations. i am happy now.In 2008 in the age of 53 i approched a guitar instructor.. and revealed my self.. now my responsibilities have got over.. i am able to pay fee for the guitar class.. the first opinion from him was .. it is not so easy for you at this age. but try.. fast movement of your fingers may be difficult for you. but try.. ! now for 2 years i go for classes. weekly one hour class. monthly 4 classess. Now i am happy..now playing almost all cords. playing pices of musics . i am so eager to see when people play Different way of strumming guitar. So i went to youtube and checked. that s the way i met you . Thanks a lot for responding the mail. with regards Sunu