What are the three types of nuclear bursts?

The correct choice identifies the three recognized types of nuclear bursts: air bursts, ground bursts, and subsurface bursts.

An air burst occurs when a nuclear weapon detonates in the atmosphere above the surface of the ground, maximizing its effective radius of destruction due to the blast wave and heat radiation propagating outward. This type of burst is designed to enhance the effects of the explosion over a wider area while reducing ground contamination.

A ground burst happens when a nuclear weapon detonates on the surface or just beneath it. This results in significant destruction in the immediate area and also creates a large amount of fallout, which is the radioactive debris that is lifted into the atmosphere and falls back to the ground, leading to contamination over a larger distance.

Subsurface bursts occur below the surface of the earth or water, generating a confined explosion that affects the surrounding area primarily through shock waves. This type usually results in a smaller immediate blast area compared to an air burst, but significantly increases the potential for radioactive fallout.

This classification of nuclear explosions is crucial for understanding the tactical and strategic implications of nuclear weapons, including their effects on both military targets and civilian populations.