The deadly effects of an atomic, or nuclear weapon include heat, radiation and blast. All three of these effects will propagate over a greater surface area if detonated some distance in the air over the target. Assuming the target population is concentrated at or near the surface, such as a city or most military bases, an air burst would be most deadly. If the target is underground in a hardened bunker, then a surface or even subsurface detonation would be more effective.
Depends on too many variables to answer without more information.yieldburst height/depthburst slant rangeTerrainWeatherif burst is subsurface, media surrounding burst (e.g. dirt, water, rock, concrete)construction of buildingsetc.
Both atmospheric and surface nuclear detonations can create mushroom clouds. Atmospheric detonations occur above the Earth's surface, while surface detonations occur at or near the Earth's surface. The characteristic mushroom cloud is formed when the intense heat of the explosion generates an updraft that draws up debris and dust into the atmosphere.
High-altitude burst Generically speaking, anything that occurs above Earth's surface is referred to as an airburst. Be that one inch above or 1,000 miles above. There are three types of nuclear blasts: the afore mentioned air burst, surface burst (that detonates upon impact, and the subsurface burst that detonates by timer or at depth. It occurs to me that your question may be worded confusingly, and you could mean the intent of detonating a nuclear device, specifically a thermonuclear device at high altitude. If this is the case, the result is an EMP (electron magnetic pulse), intended to knock out a power grid and solid state components.High altitude burst
A high-altitude nuclear burst occurs about 100,000 feet surface level. This type of burst generates an electromagnetic pulse that can disrupt or damage electrical systems and infrastructure over a wide area.
An air bubble in water bursts at the surface due to a decrease in surface tension. As the bubble rises, the water surrounding it is dragged along, stretching and thinning the surface layer. When the bubble reaches the surface, this thin layer breaks, causing the bubble to burst.
This depends mostly on the yield of the bomb, the burst type (air, surface, shallow subsurface, deep subsurface), and the slant range from the burst to the human being. Other factors are type of construction near the human being, clothing worn by the human being, weather at burst location, etc.
Anything but a deep subsurface burst or a burst in outer space.
Ground zero or surface zero. This is the point on the surface directly below or above the burst.
surface burstshallow subsurface burstvery low altitude airburstan optimal depth shallow subsurface burst will produce the biggest crater.even conventional explosives produce mushroom clouds, just proportionally smaller with the smaller yield.
A shallow subsurface burst.
subsurface burst.
Cannot answer; depends on the yield, burst height/depth, etc. Some examples of optimal altitude airbursts:Low yield tactical weapon, blast radius < 0.1 mile.Tzar Bomba (over 50MTon yield), blast radius 60 miles.Above or below the optimal altitude the blast radius of an airburst is reduced.Surface and subsurface bursts have much smaller blast radius values than airbursts. A deep enough subsurface burst can be entirely contained and have no effect on the surface (except for a brief earthquake if underground, or millions of tiny radioactive bubbles rising to surface if underwater).
This depends on many variables, including:yieldburst height/depthburst slant rangeif subsurface burst, material around burst (dirt, rock, concrete, water, etc.)weatherterrainetc.
A shallow subsurface burst.
That depends on where it goes off:air or surface burst: a blinding double flash of light lasting a few tens of microseconds, the bomb has now completed going off everything else is after effects. These include thermal flash caused fires, blast wave winds of up to hundreds of miles per hour going out from then returning to the center, a mushroom cloud, fallout.shallow subsurface burst: the bomb goes off underground so you see nothing directly from it. After effects that you do see are the blast wave winds, mushroom cloud, very large amounts of fallout.deep subsurface burst: the bomb goes off underground so you see nothing directly from it. After effects are an earthquake like shaking, this may be followed in the next few hours or days by the formation of a subsidence crater above the burst location.ionospheric burst: you may or may not see this at all. The main after effect will be EMP that can blow out electrical and electronic systems for a thousand miles or more around the burst. Don't expect to use your car, computer, phone, etc.
High-altitude burst
Nuclear detonations that occur above ground tend to create mushroom clouds due to the rapid release of energy and heat into the atmosphere. The cloud is formed as the hot air and debris rise, expand, and cool, condensing moisture and creating the distinct mushroom shape.