CATALOG OF WORLDWIDE NUCLEAR TESTING

This book represents information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Every reasonable effort has been made to give reliable data and information, but the authors and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. All rights reserved. This book, or any parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. Direct all inquiries to Begell House, Inc., 79 Madison Avenue , New York , NY 10016 . © 1999 by Begell-Atom, LLC ISBN 1-56700-131-9

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION
1. CLASSIFICATION OF NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE UNIFIED CATALOG
2. AREAS OF NUCLEAR TESTING
	2.1 United States of America (1032 nuclear tests)
	2.2 Soviet Union (715 nuclear tests)
	2.3 Great Britain (45 nuclear tests)
	2.4 French Republic (210 nuclear tests)
	2.5 People's Republic of China (47 nuclear tests)
3. NUCLEAR TESTS AND PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS (1945-1996)
4. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NUCLEAR TESTS
5. DISTRIBUTION OF U.S. NUCLEAR TESTS BY OPERATIONS
6. NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN
REFERENCES

This publication has been prepared by a group of experts from the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy headed by First Deputy Minister V.N. Mikhailov. It is a step toward the unified classification of nuclear tests conducted by the five nuclear-weapon states - the United States , the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom , France , and the People's Republic of China . All these tests were carried out between 1945 and 1996. This publication is based on both official ( USSR Nuclear Weapons Tests and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions. 1949 through 1990, RFNC-VNIIEF, 1996, USSR Nuclear Tests. Hydronuclear Experiments. Plutonium Inventory, RFNC-VNIIEF, 1997, and United States Nuclear Tests. July 1945 through September 1992, DOE, 1994) and some unofficial publications. For the first time an attempt is being made to show the entire picture of nuclear testing and to classify, in a comparative manner, the main features of nuclear testing programs for all nuclear-weapon states. The book also includes the basic information about nuclear explosions in India and Pakistan .

The book includes the unified catalog of all known nuclear tests and peaceful nuclear explosions and comments to the catalog. Because this book is based on both official and unofficial information, it cannot be considered as an official world catalog of all nuclear tests. Nevertheless, it is a principal step toward this goal.

The book is intended for a wide range of specialists, and those in the public who are interested in the history of nuclear testing and the development of nuclear technologies.

TABLES:

Table 1. Main characteristics of nuclear testing programs for the five nuclear-weapon states

Table 2. Distribution of the total number and total yield of U.S. nuclear tests

Table 3. Distribution of the total number and total yield of U.S. nuclear tests

Table 4. Distribution of USSR peaceful nuclear explosions by region

Table 5. Nuclear tests by year and state

Table 6. Nuclear explosions by year and state

Table 7. Total yield by year and state (kt)

Table 8. Atmospheric nuclear tests by year and state

Table 9. Yield of atmospheric nuclear tests by year and state (kt)

Table 10. Underground nuclear tests by year and state

Table 11. Yield of underground nuclear tests by year and state (kt)

Table 12. Nuclear tests and their total yield by area of nuclear testing

Table 13. Atmospheric nuclear tests and their total yield by area of nuclear testing

Table 14. Underground nuclear tests and their total yield by area of nuclear testing

Table 15. Salvo nuclear tests by year

Table 16. Nuclear tests and nuclear explosions by purpose

Table 17. Nuclear tests and nuclear explosions by type

Table 18. Nuclear tests and nuclear explosions by methods

Table 19. Nuclear tests and nuclear explosions by yield range

Table 20. Total yield of nuclear explosions having the most impact on the environment (kt)

Table 21. Operations in the U.S. nuclear testing program