Can you survive nuclear fallout? - Brooke Buddemeier and Jessica S. Wieder

翻译人员: Riley WANG 校对人员: Yinchun Rui

核弹爆炸产生的威力 几乎是不可想象的。

The full scope of a nuclear detonation is almost unimaginable.

Hopefully, no one will ever experience another of these catastrophic incidents.

但愿这种灾难事件 不会发生在任何人身上。

But there is a scientifically supported plan of action

但目前有一项科学证实的行动计划，

that could save hundreds of thousands of lives

能顾拯救位于核爆炸附近区域的

in the area surrounding a nuclear explosion.

数十万名生命。

So what is this plan,

这项计划是什么呢？

and what exactly would it protect us from?

它能保护我们不受何种物质的伤害？

To create their destructive blast,

为了制造出破坏力强大的爆炸，

these weapons harness the power of nuclear fission–

这些核武器驾驭了核裂变的力量，

in which an atom’s nucleus is split in two.

核裂变即原子核一分为二的过程。

This process produces an incredible amount of energy,

这个过程会释放大量能量，

and in some materials the neutrons produced by one fission

在某些材料中， 一次裂变后产生的中子

are absorbed by nearby atoms,

会被周围的原子吸收，

splitting additional nuclei.

成为新的原子核。

These chain reactions can produce a range of explosive yields,

这些连锁反应能够产生 威力不等的爆炸，

but let’s consider an explosion equivalent to 10,000 tons of TNT.

让我们假定是 与1万吨TNT炸药爆炸等同的核弹。

An explosion like this would create

这样的爆炸会形成火球，

a fireball capable of decimating a few city blocks

能够毁灭几个城市街区，

and a shockwave damaging buildings several kilometers away.

也会形成冲击波， 破坏数千米之外建筑。

There is tragically nothing that can be done

可悲的是， 我们没有任何手段

to save those in the fireball’s radius.

能够救援那些处于火球半径内的人。

However, for those in the shockwave and beyond,

但对于处于冲击波范围内或 之外的人们，

our scientifically supported protocol could be life saving.

这些经科学证实的准则 能够挽救生命。

And though it may sound surprising,

虽然可能听起来令人惊讶，

the best way to stay protected before, during, and after a nuclear detonation,

但是在核弹爆炸之前、之中和之后， 保护自己的最好办法

is getting inside.

就是待在室内。

Similar to protecting yourself from tornadoes or hurricanes,

和台风和龙卷风一样，

getting and staying inside a sturdy building would offer protection

找到并待在坚固建筑物内部

能够得到保护，使我们不受冲击波， 热量和辐射的影响。

from the explosion’s shockwave, heat, and radiation.

The shockwave of energy would travel

冲击波的能量能够在最开始的几秒

several kilometers beyond the fireball’s radius in the first few seconds.

达到火球半径的数公里外。

Sturdy buildings within that range should be able to withstand the shockwave,

在此范围内的坚固建筑物能够抵挡冲击波，

and staying in the centers and basements of these buildings

待在这些建筑物内或地下室

also helps provide protection from heat and flying objects.

能够帮助抵抗热量和空中飞行的物体。

Finding shelter is especially important if the fireball occurs close to the earth,

如果火球在地面附近形成， 寻找避难所尤为重要，

as it will pull thousands of tons of dirt and debris

因为爆炸能将数千吨的土和垃圾

several kilometers into the atmosphere.

带到几千米高的大气层中。

As the fireball cools,

随着火球冷却，

unstable atoms created by the nuclear fission mix with the debris

核裂变过程中产生的不稳定的原子 会与这些残骸混合，

to produce the most dangerous long-term effect of a nuclear detonation:

成为核弹爆炸最危险、 最长久的危害：

radioactive particles called fallout.

放射性颗粒，也称放射性坠尘。

These sand-sized particles emit ionizing radiation,

这些沙粒大小的颗粒 会释放离子化的辐射，

capable of separating electrons from molecules and atoms.

能够将电子从分子和 原子核中分离出来。

Exposure to massive amounts of this radiation can result in cell damage,

大量接触这样的辐射会损害细胞，

radiation burns, radiation sickness, cancer, and even death.

造成放射性灼伤，放射性眩晕， 癌症，甚至是死亡。

Created several kilometers up,

由于这些物质是在 几千米的高空产生，

dangerous concentrations of this material

它们会聚集达到较高的浓度，

would be driven by upper atmospheric winds,

受到大气层的风驱使，

potentially leading to hazardous levels of fallout

飘散到数十公里之外的下风区，

in areas up to tens of kilometers downwind.

对其造成危险的放射性坠尘。

Thankfully, the same buildings that offer protection from the blast

幸运的是，建筑物能够抵抗 爆炸冲击波，

are even better at guarding against fallout.

可以更好地保护我们 不受放射性辐射的影响。

Radiation is reduced as it travels through space and mass.

辐射会在通过空间和物体之后减少，

So while a broken window and sealed window

因此一扇破掉的窗户 和一扇密封的窗户

both have the same minimal effect on radiation,

对辐射的影响都微乎其微，

thick layers of steel, concrete, and packed earth

而厚厚的钢筋水泥和泥土层

can offer serious protection.

能够提供周到的保护。

And since fallout gives off half of its energy in the first hour

由于放射性坠尘会在 第一个小时释放一半的能量，

and 80% in the first day,

在第一天会释放80%的能量，

staying inside for 24 hours could dramatically improve the odds

在室内待24小时

of avoiding the most serious effects of radiation.

能顾显著减少辐射带来的最严重影响。

Following the blast there would be at least 15 minutes to find shelter

在冲击波发生之后、 形成放射性坠尘之前。

将有至少15分钟用来寻找避难所。

before the fallout begins.

Since the most hazardous fallout particles are the heaviest,

最具危害性的放射性颗粒 质量也是最大的，

they sink through the air

它们在空气中下沉，

and collect on streets and rooftops,

积聚在街道和屋顶，

making ideal shelters underground or in the middle of high-rise buildings.

因此最理想的避难所 是位于地下或高层建筑中间楼层。

But if someone were to get caught in the fallout,

但若真的身处放射性坠尘之中，

there are still measures they could take.

你仍然可以采取其他措施。

After finding a safe space,

在找到安全空间后，

they should remove their shoes and outer layers,

应该脱掉鞋子和外层衣服，

wash any exposed skin,

清洗所有暴露在外的皮肤，

and store the contaminated clothing far away.

将受到污染的衣物存储 到距离较远的地方，

Once inside,

一旦进入室内，

plan on staying there for at least 24 hours.

做好在此停留至少24小时的准备。

If the shelter is poor, or someone inside needs urgent medical attention,

如果避难所条件较差 或是有人需要紧急医疗救助，

try seeking outside help after an hour.

请在一小时之后寻求帮助。

But ideally,

stay inside and stay tuned for more information from first responders.

但在理想条件下，

待在室内，保持警惕， 确保能够接受到第一手信息。

While electric power, cell service, and Internet would be down,

虽然电力、手机服务和网络 将会中断，

most radios would likely survive.

但大多数广播将能继续运行。

So listen in for emergency responders

因此要收听来自紧急救援人员的消息

to determine the safest course forward.

来决定最安全的策略。

Nuclear weapons are some of the most powerful tools of destruction on Earth,

核武器是少数 对地球造成巨大杀伤力的武器，

and it may seem naive to put faith in these straightforward protective measures.

寄希望于这些简单的保护措施 似乎太过天真。

But studies and simulations have repeatedly shown the benefits

但是学术研究和模拟实验反复证明了

of getting inside.

待在室内大有裨益。

So while we’ll hopefully never need to,

因此，虽然我们希望永远不必如此，

remember to Get Inside, Stay Inside, and Stay Tuned.

但还是要记住进入室内， 待在室内和保持警觉。