3 ms·

The more underground you are, the better. Shield from those gamma photons! If that ain't an option, jumping into the ocean doesn't seem like such a terrible id

The more underground you are, the better. Shield from those gamma photons! If that ain't an option, jumping into the ocean doesn't seem like such a terrible idea.

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> jumping into the ocean doesn't seem like such a terrible idea That’s a terrible idea. You’d be directly exposed when at the surface and end up inhaling fall-out.
- subcosmos 9y ago
  Of course I was sarcastically implying that you would immediately swim to the mainland
krasin 9y ago
I would be wary of the hydraulic shock (assuming the blast is near the ground), and if one is still alive, radioactive sodium will help: >Salt in seawater readily absorbs neutrons into both the sodium-23 and chlorine-35 atoms, which change to radioactive isotopes. Sodium-24 has a half life of about 15 hours, while that of chlorine-36 (which has a lower absorption cross-section) is 300,000 years; the sodium is therefore the most dangerous contaminant since it has the shortsest half life. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_explosion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_explosion
ChuckMcM 9y ago
This parallels the recommendation from the 50's and 60's.
nostrademons 9y ago
For most people fall-out is a bigger risk than blast damage or immediate radiation exposure. The immediate effects of a blast range only ~1km (depending on yield), but fall-out occurs over a much wider radius. For that - take shelter inside, anywhere. Make sure you shut all windows and doors tight, and ideally tape shut vents. Cover openings with a wet towel. Stay put (don't go outside!) and shelter in an interior room for at least one and ideally 3-5 days. Radiation follows an exponential decay curve, so waiting longer significantly reduces the amount of radiation you are exposed to. You have about 45 minutes after the blast (~1 hour after launch) before fall-out starts arriving in significant quantities: enough to take shelter and do basic preparations, but not enough to travel any significant distance. The biggest physiological danger comes from inhaled alpha-particle emitters, i.e. radioactive dust. Alpha particles have only a few cm range and are easily stopped by wood, paper, or skin, though, so don't breathe the dust. Beta particles are also easily stopped by clothing or a few meters of air. There's not much you can do about gamma rays or X-rays (this is what your hypothetical lead-lined vault is for), but they are physiologically less dangerous than alpha and beta particles.

The more underground you are, the better. Shield from those gamma photons! If that ain't an option, jumping into the ocean doesn't seem like such a terrible idea.

JumpCrisscross 9y ago

> jumping into the ocean doesn't seem like such a terrible idea That’s a terrible idea. You’d be directly exposed when at the surface and end up inhaling fall-out.

subcosmos 9y ago
Of course I was sarcastically implying that you would immediately swim to the mainland

krasin 9y ago

I would be wary of the hydraulic shock (assuming the blast is near the ground), and if one is still alive, radioactive sodium will help: >Salt in seawater readily absorbs neutrons into both the sodium-23 and chlorine-35 atoms, which change to radioactive isotopes. Sodium-24 has a half life of about 15 hours, while that of chlorine-36 (which has a lower absorption cross-section) is 300,000 years; the sodium is therefore the most dangerous contaminant since it has the shortsest half life. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_explosion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_explosion

ChuckMcM 9y ago

This parallels the recommendation from the 50's and 60's.

nostrademons 9y ago

For most people fall-out is a bigger risk than blast damage or immediate radiation exposure. The immediate effects of a blast range only ~1km (depending on yield), but fall-out occurs over a much wider radius. For that - take shelter inside, anywhere. Make sure you shut all windows and doors tight, and ideally tape shut vents. Cover openings with a wet towel. Stay put (don't go outside!) and shelter in an interior room for at least one and ideally 3-5 days. Radiation follows an exponential decay curve, so waiting longer significantly reduces the amount of radiation you are exposed to. You have about 45 minutes after the blast (~1 hour after launch) before fall-out starts arriving in significant quantities: enough to take shelter and do basic preparations, but not enough to travel any significant distance. The biggest physiological danger comes from inhaled alpha-particle emitters, i.e. radioactive dust. Alpha particles have only a few cm range and are easily stopped by wood, paper, or skin, though, so don't breathe the dust. Beta particles are also easily stopped by clothing or a few meters of air. There's not much you can do about gamma rays or X-rays (this is what your hypothetical lead-lined vault is for), but they are physiologically less dangerous than alpha and beta particles.