Hiroshima

Hiroshima Bombing

By DrBrule

  • Bomb drops

    Bomb drops
    1. 8:15 (Hiroshima time) the Enola Gay drops the atomic bomb dubbed "Little Boy."
    2. The nose of the Enola Gay rises ten feet as the 9,700 pound Little Boy bomb is released at 31,060 feet.
    3. 8:16 Little Boy detonates at an altitude of approximately 1,900 feet (580 meters) above the city.

  • Detonation

    Detonation
    1. .1 seconds: The fireball has expanded to one hundred feet in diameter combined with a temperature of 500,000°F. Neutrons and gamma rays reach the ground. The ionizing radiation is responsible for causing the majority of the radiological damage to all exposed humans, animals and other biological organisms.
    2. .15 seconds: The superheated air above the ground glows. A woman sitting on steps on the bank of the Ota river, a half a mile away from ground zero, instantly vaporizes.

  • Atomic energy from blast

    Atomic energy from blast
    1. 1.0 second and beyond: The fireball reaches its maximum size, approximately 900 feet in diameter. The blast wave slows to approximately the speed of sound (768 miles per hour).
    2. The temperature at ground level directly beneath the blast (hypocenter) is at 7,000° F. The mushroom cloud begins to form.
    3. Nuclear shadows appear for the first time as a result of the extreme thermal radiation. These shadows are outlines of humans and objects that blocked the thermal radiation.

  • The next day

    The next day
    1. Rescue and relief efforts begin, with Japanese authorities and the Red Cross providing medical care and aid to survivors.
    2. The immediate death toll is estimated at around 70,000, and tens of thousands are injured.
    3. Many succumb to their injuries in the days following the explosion.

  • Next Year

    Next Year
    1. Increased incidence of leukemia cases among survivors.
    2. Radiation-related cancers, such as thyroid cancer and other solid tumors, begin to appear.
    3. Complications from radiation burns effect many.

  • 1950's and 1960's

    1950's and 1960's
    1. Cases of leukemia were among the first radiation-related diseases to be observed and documented in survivors.
    2. An elevated incidence of thyroid cancer was noted among survivors due to radiation exposure.
    3. An increase in various solid tumors, such as lung, stomach, breast, and liver cancer, was observed among survivors during this period.
    4. Survivors experienced an elevated risk of heart disease, including atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular conditions.

  • Remaining 1940's

    Remaining 1940's
    1. Burns caused about 60 percent of the deaths in Hiroshima.
    2. Falling debris and flying glass caused 30 percent of the deaths in Hiroshima.
    3. Radiation caused 10 percent of the deaths in Hiroshima.
    4. No harmful amount of persistent radioactivity was found in either of the two cities in the months after the bombings.

  • 1970's and 1980's

    1970's and 1980's
    1. Thyroid cancer, particularly in those exposed to radioactive iodine isotopes released during the explosion.
    2. Radiation was associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
    3. Exposure to radiation was known to increase the risk of developing cataracts.
    4. Descendants of atomic bomb survivors, especially in the second and third generations, continued to experience an elevated risk of genetic mutations and birth defects.

  • 1990's to 2000's

    1990's to 2000's
    1. Evidence of genetic mutations and an increase in birth defects among the descendants of survivors were observed in the 1990s and 2000s.
    2. The development of cataracts is a well-documented effect of radiation exposure, and many survivors experienced vision problems and cataracts in the decades following the bombing.
    3. Survivors continued to be at an increased risk of developing various types of cancer, including leukemia, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.

  • Today

    Today
    1. Since the bombs were detonated so far above the ground, there was very little contamination.
    2. There is no longer remnants of the radiation from the atomic bomb.
    3. The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies.