# If a Hydrogen Bomb was dropped on New York City, how much damage would it cause? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916 "2009-01-19T01:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spin\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/1 "2009-01-19T01:23:41Z")
It’s a little difficult to imagine such an event but I want to wrap my mind around the significance of such a thing happening. Let’s say a hydrogen bomb was dropped right in the center of New York City. What would be the approximate blast radius? About how many fatalities would there be? What would New York City look like afterwards? How would American civilians as a whole cope with such a unprecedented event? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/2 "2009-01-19T01:29:03Z")
You’re going to need to be more specific as to: the yield of the bomb, height above the ground and define your location more precisely. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/3 "2009-01-19T01:36:10Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > You’re going to need to be more specific as to: the yield of the bomb, height above the ground and define your location more precisely. Well, for shits and giggles until the OP returns to answer, let’s say the most potent thermonuclear device ever tested–reputed to be capable of a 100-megaton yield, and a maximally-destructive airburst of, oh, around 2 miles up. Ground zero is directly over the Empire State Building. Napkins ready…GO! ---
**Author:** ![Spin\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/4 "2009-01-19T01:41:38Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > You’re going to need to be more specific as to: the yield of the bomb, height above the ground and define your location more precisely. I would assume that if it were the beginning of World War 3, America’s enemy would choose the hydrogen bomb, height above the ground and location that would cause maximum damage. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/5 "2009-01-19T01:54:27Z")
Here’s an old BBC documentary using London as an example. I found it pretty interesting. [Part I](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AYMS1po0L8) [Part II](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLUUbZpfwoE) [Part III](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0E8pNX9viE) It both describes the effects and some points about survival after the explosion. ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/6 "2009-01-19T03:34:03Z")
This site might be of interest: [http://meyerweb.com/eric/tools/gmap/hydesim.html](http://meyerweb.com/eric/tools/gmap/hydesim.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/7 "2009-01-19T03:38:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I would assume that if it were the beginning of World War 3, America’s enemy would choose the hydrogen bomb, height above the ground and location that would cause maximum damage. Probably a safe assumption. It’s not much harder to make a big H-bomb than a small one, and anyone with the tech to make any H-bomb probably also has a variety of ways of delivering it available to them, too. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/8 "2009-01-19T04:27:27Z")
I’ll take a WAG. > [@](#): > > \*\*What would be the approximate blast radius? > \*\* The ‘crater’ is about five miles across. The resulting firestorm is about thirty miles across. > > \*\*About how many fatalities would there be? > \*\* I’m guessing five million the first day; ten million after one month and fifteen million after one year. > > **What would New York City look like afterwards?** See above. > > **How would American civilians as a whole cope with such a unprecedented event?** This would mean one out of every _20_ Americans dead. It takes no account of wounded or the loss of things like the NYSE _and_ the Statue of Liberty _and_ etc… I can’t believe rational people used to do these calculations for real during the Cold War. I’m going to crawl under the covers with my dogie now.☹ ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/9 "2009-01-19T04:38:46Z")
Oh, I forgot; the good news is that this is New York and not Los Angeles so most of the fallout blows out to sea. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/10 "2009-01-19T05:24:56Z")
> [@Spin\_Master](#): > > I would assume that if it were the beginning of World War 3, America’s enemy would choose the hydrogen bomb, height above the ground and location that would cause maximum damage. Actually, at the beginning of WWII, the enemy would use whatever sized weapon either fit inside the missile they launched, or was easily smuggled into the country. If it was a terrorist bomb, it would be highly unlikely that it was a hydrogen bomb, as those are significantly bigger and more complex than fission bombs. If it’s an SS-25 coming from Russia or equivalent, it’s got a 250kt warhead. A warhead this size would create a zone of total destruction of about a mile, and knock down most buildings within 2 miles but there would be survivors between 1 and 2 miles away if they were protected. At about five miles, you’ve got blown out windows and other light damage, but most people would survive the initial blast. Radiation effects are a craphoot, depending on the wind direction, etc. If it’s a terrorist bomb, it’s very likely it would be low yield - maybe 1 ton and up to 10kt, depending on design, size, and how well it goes off. A 10 kt bomb, about half the size of Hiroshima’s bomb, would obliterate an area about 500 meters across, and do a lot of destruction for the next mile or two. Most of New York would survive such a bombing. [This picture shows an arial view of Hiroshima after the bombing.](http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/hiroshima-4.jpg) 69% of Hiroshima’s buildings were destroyed by the bomb. Hiroshima today is roughly the size of of New York City proper, but in WWII before the bomb it was about 1/3 the size in population. But I don’t know how that translates to area. Anyway, there’s a reasonable comparison: about 70% of a city about 1/3 the size of modern New York was destroyed by a 20 kt bomb. The New York Metro area is about 15 times larger than the city proper, however. So a 20kt bomb might destroy 5% of the metro area of new York. The majority of the population would survive. The city is very densely populated, so it would be an immense tragedy. Maybe 5 million people killed or seriously injured. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/11 "2009-01-19T05:39:35Z")
Well, but a hypothetical low-yield terrorist nuke would likely be detonated at ground level (probably in the harbour) which would significantly decrease the damage. The Hiroshima bomb was detonated at about 2000 feet. Still, the OP is asking about a fusion bomb, not a fission bomb, and so it seems reasonable to presume a much higher yield, a proper delivery system, and an aerial detonation. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/12 "2009-01-19T05:59:19Z")
If we posit that the bomb dropped was the biggest Russia dropped, in effect a repeat of the Tsar Bomba test, it would be ugly. (Yes, I know it’s unrealistic, but this is at the OP’s posit) The Tsar Bomba had a neutered yield of 50 megaton, weighed 27 tonnes. It was detonated at 4km altitude - 2.5 miles. The fireball alone was 8 kilometres (5 miles) in diametre and would have caused third degree burns at a distance of 62 kilometres away. The mushroom cloud itself went 64 kilometres (40 miles) high and 40 kilometres (25mi) wide. The seizmic wave it created registered as a 5,25 on Richter’s and blew out windows in Finland. It was still detectable after having travelled _around the earth three times._ On the upside, the Tsar Bomba was one of the cleanest (in terms of fallout) bombs ever designed. So if you survived the initial blast and the following destruction, you would have a good chance of getting away alive. Eta: A comparative fireball size chart I found on the Wiki article: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Comparative\_nuclear\_fireball\_sizes.svg/250px-Comparative\_nuclear\_fireball\_sizes.svg.png](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Comparative_nuclear_fireball_sizes.svg/250px-Comparative_nuclear_fireball_sizes.svg.png) ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/13 "2009-01-19T08:20:51Z")
I knew these formulas would come in handy some day! According to these formulas which I found somewhere, for a 250 kt warhead, you’d be getting third-degree burns out to 6.6 km, and a 500 rem dose (sufficient to cause acute radiation poisoning) out to 2.4 km. For the Tsar Bomba, you would be getting third degree burns 58 km away, and acute radiation poisoning out to 6.5 km. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/14 "2009-01-19T11:54:18Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > [This picture shows an arial view of Hiroshima after the bombing.](http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/hiroshima-4.jpg) 69% of Hiroshima’s buildings were destroyed by the bomb. . One thing to consider. Most of Japans buildings at that time were both pretty flimsy and fairly flammable. I have heard some say the nuclear bombs in Japan did more damage by the fact the whole town was set on fire than actual nuclear “blast” effects. Or in other words, if we had airdropped a couple hundred well coordinated Ninja (american breed of course) arsonists, the results would have been almost as bad. Then do a little research on firestorms and WW2 bombings for more info. Modern New York building would probably fair much better. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/15 "2009-01-19T12:41:32Z")
Here’s a [google maplet](http://www.carloslabs.com/projects/200712B/GroundZero.html) that lets you detonate nuclear bombs of varying yield wherever you so chose. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/16 "2009-01-19T12:50:27Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Or in other words, if we had airdropped a couple hundred well coordinated Ninja (american breed of course) arsonists, the results would have been almost as bad. No, no, you forget the Inverse Ninja Law; the more Ninja there are, the weaker they are. Drop a few hundred and they’d be beaten to death by kids with sticks. You want to drop ONE Ninja arsonist; with just one you won’t even need to give him a parachute; just fire the plane’s machineguns and let him run down the bullets to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/17 "2009-01-19T12:56:25Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Here’s a [google maplet](http://www.carloslabs.com/projects/200712B/GroundZero.html) that lets you detonate nuclear bombs of varying yield wherever you so chose. Oh, the joys and wonders of the interwebs! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/18 "2009-01-20T06:39:20Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Well, for shits and giggles until the OP returns to answer, let’s say the most potent thermonuclear device ever tested–reputed to be capable of a 100-megaton yield, and a maximally-destructive airburst of, oh, around 2 miles up. Ground zero is directly over the Empire State Building. > > Napkins ready…GO! No problem, we did something like this a little while ago: > **[Maximum Death For Nuclear Bomb in USA](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=494816)** > > I was reading how the A-Bomb at Nagasaki was less destructive due to the fact there are mountains which somewhat mitigated the damage. So I was thinking if some country wanted to attack the USA the obvious choices are NYC and Washington DC But not... ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/19 "2009-01-20T18:40:02Z")
The terrain of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (slightly more rugged than New York) also affected both the population dispersal (and vulnerability) and the effects of the blast. Comparing Hiroshima to New York shouldn’t be a straight linear equation. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916/20 "2009-01-20T19:18:06Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Here’s a [google maplet](http://www.carloslabs.com/projects/200712B/GroundZero.html) that lets you detonate nuclear bombs of varying yield wherever you so chose. That just seems to show thermal damage. What about the shockwave and radiation? There should also be a “Chuck Norris roundhouse kick” option [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-hydrogen-bomb-was-dropped-on-new-york-city-how-much-damage-would-it-cause/481916.md?page=2)