The force of a one megaton nuclear explosion at ground level would be roughly 100 pounds per square inch (psi) within one mile of the explosion. Such an explosion would leave a crater in the earth measuring at least 175 feet (50 meters) deep and 700 feet (200 meters) wide, and would throw a vast quantity of radioactive dirt and debris into the atmosphere, which would cause further destruction and toxicity as it fell back to earth. In contrast to a ground level explosion, an explosion at 8,000 feet (1.5 miles / 2.5km) above the earth's surface would create a smaller quantity of fallout and debris, but would have a much wider blast radius.
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Radical Statistics. (February 24, 1982). Estimated blast radius of a one megaton nuclear explosion by peak overpressure (in miles) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 19, 2026, from /statistics/1368754/nuclear-bomb-estimated-force-by-distance/
Radical Statistics. "Estimated blast radius of a one megaton nuclear explosion by peak overpressure (in miles)." Chart. February 24, 1982. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 19, 2026. /statistics/1368754/nuclear-bomb-estimated-force-by-distance/
Radical Statistics. (1982). Estimated blast radius of a one megaton nuclear explosion by peak overpressure (in miles). ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 19, 2026. /statistics/1368754/nuclear-bomb-estimated-force-by-distance/
Radical Statistics. "Estimated Blast Radius of a One Megaton Nuclear Explosion by Peak Overpressure (in Miles)." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 24 Feb 1982, /statistics/1368754/nuclear-bomb-estimated-force-by-distance/
Radical Statistics, Estimated blast radius of a one megaton nuclear explosion by peak overpressure (in miles) ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1368754/nuclear-bomb-estimated-force-by-distance/ (last visited July 19, 2026)
Estimated blast radius of a one megaton nuclear explosion by peak overpressure (in miles) [Graph], Radical Statistics, February 24, 1982. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1368754/nuclear-bomb-estimated-force-by-distance/