List of nuclear weapons tests

List of Nuclear Weapons Tests refers to the chronological documentation of all nuclear weapons tests conducted by various nations since the inception of nuclear technology. The list includes both atmospheric and underground tests, carried out for both military and civilian purposes.

Overview

Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to understand the effectiveness, yield, and explosive capability of nuclear weapons. These tests have been conducted by several nations since the mid-20th century, with the first nuclear test, codenamed Trinity, conducted by the United States in 1945.

Types of Nuclear Tests

Nuclear tests can be broadly classified into two categories: atmospheric and underground.

Atmospheric Tests

Atmospheric nuclear testing involves detonating nuclear devices in the atmosphere. These tests can further be divided into high-altitude tests and low-altitude tests. The Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 largely put an end to atmospheric testing due to the harmful effects of radioactive fallout.

Underground Tests

Underground nuclear testing involves detonating nuclear devices beneath the surface of the Earth. These tests are generally considered safer as they limit the amount of radioactive fallout released into the atmosphere.

Notable Nuclear Tests

Several nuclear tests have had significant impacts on the development of nuclear weapons and international relations. Some of these include:

• Trinity: The first nuclear test conducted by the United States in 1945.
• Operation Crossroads: A series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946.
• Operation Grapple: A series of British nuclear tests of early atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs carried out in 1957 and 1958.
• Tsar Bomba: The most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated, tested by the Soviet Union in 1961.

Nuclear-Testing Nations

The following nations have conducted nuclear tests:

• United States
• Soviet Union
• United Kingdom
• France
• China
• India
• Pakistan
• North Korea

See Also

• Nuclear proliferation
• Effects of nuclear explosions
• Nuclear disarmament
• Nuclear-weapon-free zone