[24.01.07] Megaton Nuclear Underground Tests and Catastrophic Events on Novaya Zemlya: A Satellite Study
The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs has the great pleasure of inviting you to the seminar
Megaton Nuclear Underground Tests and Catastrophic Events on Novaya Zemlya: A Satellite Study
Johnny Skorve, Senior researcher, NUPI
The seminar is held in connection with the recent issue of the report Megaton Nuclear Underground Tests and Catastrophic Events on Novaya Zemlya: A Satellite Study by Johnny Skorve, NUPI.
About the Study
The study focuses on a set of extremely powerful underground nuclear tests conducted at Novaya Zemlya test site in the former Soviet Union, between 1970 and 1975. These tests culminated in September 1973, with the most powerful underground test ever detonated, with a yield of 4.2 megatons or about 350 times the strength of the Hiroshima bomb. Four simultaneous explosions set off a catastrophic rockslide that filled an entire valley, blocking a river and thus forming a lake of trapped water behind the masses. The slide was massive, with a total rock volume of 80 million cubic meters.
Also other powerful tests conducted during this period had dramatic effects on the Arctic landscape, as noted in this report. The study is based on interpretation and analysis of satellite images combined with recent Russian information on the underground nuclear testing on Novaya Zemlya. The satellite images used cover a long time-span, from declassified US reconnaissance satellite photographs of the 1960s to IKONOS and Quick Bird commercial high resolution digital images taken only a few years ago. The study reveals further details on how the testing was conducted and what safety measures were employed.
The most recent underground test at the Novaya Zemlya site took place in 1990.