Quote Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus View Post
This was done after the scientists said a 100 megaton bomb would cripple all of Russia with the fallout (which would be equivalent to 25% of all tested nuclear devices in the history of mankind) and the shockwave, which would generate a Richter 10 or worse earthquake if detonated on the ground – the 50 megaton test could have released 7.2 Richter if it was not an airburst…
Posting only because you have mentioned a preference of statistics.

100/2=50 megaton = half of Russia crippled with the fallout. (The reduced radiation comes from scrapping the uranium to lead in the final blasting cap. A pure fusion bomb is fairly clean, only neutron decay from the blast)

50*2 = triggering a 16.000 times stronger earthquake.

100 megaton triggering a seismic energy yield of 1.000.000 megaton (10 Richter).

Fair enough, the 50 megaton one is equal to about 7,1 Richter, but I would say that getting hit by the nuke is a bit worse than the following ground shockwave. ¨
The point of blowing it in the air is exactly that, because hitting the ground is severly weaking the blast, thus effiency.