> The nuclear winter model at its simplest: Nuclear detonations → Fires in cities → Firestorms in cities → Lofted black carbon into the upper atmosphere → black

> The nuclear winter model at its simplest: Nuclear detonations → Fires in cities → Firestorms in cities → Lofted black carbon into the upper atmosphere → black carbon persists in upper atmosphere, reflecting sunlight and causes massive cooling > > Each step is required in order for the effect to occur. Why cities in particular? Are cities more flammable or more likely to produce the wrong kind of smoke than, say, a forest fire? (I'm assuming there exist at least some military targets in heavily forested areas.) Also, is the nuclear blast itself a key component in the effect? For instance, does the mushroom cloud create an updraft larger than what you'd have with a regular forest fire?