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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM)

Radioactive Plume and Damage Zones from an IND - Illustration
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Radioactive plume

radioactive plume
Source of graphic: Key Response Planning Factors for the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism, (PDF - 4.52 MB)
(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 8/2009); Note: document contains other plume illustrations as well.
  • Graphic display shows hypothetical, computer-modeled zones of damage, injury, and radiation levels after 10kT ground burst of an improvised nuclear device
    • Linear scale of miles on both the x and y-axis
    • Zones are approximate and would likely change over time during an event
  • Irregular darker blue areas on the right half of the diagram reflect areas of potential radioactive fallout
    • Note that weather and wind affect where fallout goes over time
      • Upper winds carry fallout in one direction.
      • Winds nearer to the earth's surface carry fallout in another direction
      • This difference is frequently seen, even with normal weather patterns
      • Both upper and lower winds can change direction normally, and during an event

Damage zones without fallout

Illustration showing damage zones without fallout
Source: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation, 1/2009 (PDF - 1.69 MB) (Homeland Security Council, Figure 2.1)
  • Diagram represents hypothetical, modeled damage zones after a 10kT ground burst of an IND
  • When responders consider where and how to direct their initial efforts, this guidance may be helpful.

Damage zones with fallout

Illustration shoing damage zones with fallout
Source: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation, 1/2009 (PDF - 1.69 MB) (Homeland Security Council, Figure 1.4)
  • Diagram represent hypothetical, modeled damage zones after a 10kT ground burst of an IND with the wind blowing left to right
  • When responders consider where and how to direct their initial efforts, this guidance may be helpful.
  • See diagram above for LD, MD, NG labels.
  • DF represents "Dangerous Fallout" zone.
    • A radiation exposure rate of 10 Roentgens/hour is used to delimit this zone