1981 Soviet nuclear tests

none List of nuclear weapons tests of the Soviet Union 1981 Soviet Union Astrakhan, Russia; Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Krasnoyarsk, Russia; Nenetsky, Russia; NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia; Perm, Russia 1981 21 underground shaft, tunnel 150 ktTNT in 1980 Soviet nuclear tests 1982 Soviet nuclear tests 1981 Soviet nuclear tests The Soviet Union's 1981 nuclear test series was a group of 21 nuclear tests conducted in 1981. These testsA bomb test may be a salvo test, defined as two or more explosions "where a period of time between successive individual explosions does not exceed 5 seconds and where the burial points of all explosive devices can be connected by segments of straight lines, each of them connecting two burial points and does not exceed 40 kilometers in length". V. N. Mikhailov Catalog of World Wide Nuclear Testing Begell-Atom, LLC http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm 2013-12-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20140426102201/http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm 2014-04-26 dead followed the 1980 Soviet nuclear tests series and preceded the 1982 Soviet nuclear tests series. + Soviet Union's 1981 series tests and detonations Name The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known. Date time (UT) Local time zoneTo convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.Time Zone Historical Database iana.com http://www.ietf.org/timezones/ March 8, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140311224729/http://www.ietf.org/timezones/ 2014-03-11 dead LocationRough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area. Elevation + height Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together. Delivery,Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down. DeviceDesignations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed. YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie). FalloutRadioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released. References Notes 567567 dmy 1981 3 25 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 603-pp 49.81806 78.04053 567 inline 000677677 m on + tunnel,safety experiment 000000010 1000 kg 568 - 1568 dmy 1981 3 29 04:03:52.58 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1234 50.02305 78.97872 568 - 1 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000300000 30 kt 568 - 2568 dmy 1981 3 29 04:03:52.6 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1234 50.02305 78.97872 568 - 2 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,fundamental science 000000000 unknown yield 568 - 3568 dmy 1981 3 29 04:03:52.6 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1234 50.02305 78.97872 568 - 3 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,fundamental science 000000000 unknown yield 569 - 1569 dmy 1981 4 22 01:17:13.91 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1232 49.89986 78.80613 569 - 1 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000920000 92 kt 569 - 2569 dmy 1981 4 22 01:17:13.9 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1232 49.89986 78.80613 569 - 2 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 569 - 3569 dmy 1981 4 22 01:17:13.9 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1232 49.89986 78.80613 569 - 3 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 570 Pirit (Pyrite)570 Pirit (Pyrite) dmy 1981 5 25 05:00:00.3 KRAT (7 hrs) Nenetsky, Russia 67.95265 53.96737 570 Pirit (Pyrite) inline 000000 – 1511 m on underground shaft,extinguishing oil/gas fires 000375999 37.6 kt Gas fire shaft closure. 571571 dmy 1981 5 27 03:58:14.88 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1203 49.9887 78.96913 571 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000200000 20 kt 572572 dmy 1981 6 4 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 603-pp 49.81902 78.04075 572 inline 000677677 m on + tunnel,safety experiment 000000010 1000 kg 573 - 1573 dmy 1981 6 30 01:57:15.34 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 187 49.7669 78.0744 573 - 1 inline 000633633 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000120000 12 kt 573 - 2573 dmy 1981 6 30 01:57:15.3 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 187 49.7669 78.0744 573 - 2 inline 000633633 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 574574 dmy 1981 7 17 02:37:18.12 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 106 49.8064 78.1352 574 inline 000656802 m on – 146 m on tunnel,weapons development 000093000 9.3 kt 575 - 1575 dmy 1981 8 14 02:27:15.24 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 184 49.7587 78.0565 575 - 1 inline 000717717 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000056000 5.6 kt 575 - 2575 dmy 1981 8 14 02:27:15.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 184 49.7587 78.0565 575 - 2 inline 000717717 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 575 - 3575 dmy 1981 8 14 02:27:15.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 184 49.7587 78.0565 575 - 3 inline 000717717 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 576 Geliy 1 (Helium)576 Geliy 1 (Helium) dmy 1981 9 2 04:00:00.0 SVET (5 hrs) Perm, Russia: 401 60.6 55.7 576 Geliy 1 (Helium) inline 000000 – 2090 m on underground shaft,oil stimulation 000032000 3.2 kt Oil recovery intensification.170 km NE Bereznyaki. 577577 dmy 1981 9 13 02:17:20.84 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1233 49.91478 78.89416 577 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 001500000 150 kt 578 Vega 4T578 Vega 4T dmy 1981 9 26 05:00:00.3 VOLT (4 hrs) Astrakhan, Russia: 4T/2 46.79357 48.30856 578 Vega 4T inline 00000010 m on – 1050 m on underground shaft,cavity excavation 000085000 8.5 kt Create reservoirs for gas storage. 35 km N Astrakhan. 579 Vega 2T579 Vega 2T dmy 1981 9 26 05:03:59.9 VOLT (4 hrs) Astrakhan, Russia: 2T/2 46.77591 48.30111 579 Vega 2T inline 00000010 m on – 1050 m on underground shaft,cavity excavation 000085000 8.5 kt Create reservoirs for gas storage. 35 km N Astrakhan. 580 - 1580 dmy 1981 10 1 12:14:57.23 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-23 73.304 54.818 580 - 1 inline 000000100 m on – 600 m on tunnel,weapons development 001400000 140 kt 580 - 2580 dmy 1981 10 1 12:14:57.2 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-23 73.304 54.818 580 - 2 inline 000100100 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 580 - 3580 dmy 1981 10 1 12:14:57.2 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-23 73.304 54.818 580 - 3 inline 000100100 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 580 - 4580 dmy 1981 10 1 12:14:57.2 MSK (3 hrs) NZ Area B, Matochkin Shar, Novaya Zemlya, Russia: A-23 73.304 54.818 580 - 4 inline 000100100 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 581581 dmy 1981 10 16 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 136-pp 49.82982 78.08045 581 inline 000638638 m on + tunnel,safety experiment 000000010 1000 kg 582 - 1582 dmy 1981 10 18 03:57:05.22 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1236 49.92896 78.84349 582 - 1 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 001070000 107 kt 582 - 2582 dmy 1981 10 18 03:57:05.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1236 49.92896 78.84349 582 - 2 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 583 Shpat 2 (Spar)583 Shpat 2 (Spar) dmy 1981 10 22 14:00:00.4 KRAT (7 hrs) Krasnoyarsk, Russia: ShP-2 63.80332 97.53177 583 Shpat 2 (Spar) inline 000000 – 580 m on underground shaft,seismic sounding 000085000 8.5 kt Gas extraction intensification. 140 km W Tura, Krasnoyarsk. 584 - 1584 dmy 1981 11 20 04:57:05.07 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 103 49.7401 78.0965 584 - 1 inline 000620620 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000080000 8 kt 584 - 2584 dmy 1981 11 20 04:57:05.1 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 103 49.7401 78.0965 584 - 2 inline 000620620 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 585 - 1585 dmy 1981 11 29 03:35:11.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1237 49.90269 78.84754 585 - 1 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000310000 31 kt 585 - 2585 dmy 1981 11 29 03:35:11.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1237 49.90269 78.84754 585 - 2 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 585 - 3585 dmy 1981 11 29 03:35:11.2 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1237 49.90269 78.84754 585 - 3 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 586 - 1586 dmy 1981 12 22 04:31:05.27 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 135 49.8267 78.0757 586 - 1 inline 000638638 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000070000 7 kt 586 - 2586 dmy 1981 12 22 04:31:05.3 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 135 49.8267 78.0757 586 - 2 inline 000638638 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 586 - 3586 dmy 1981 12 22 04:31:05.3 ALMT (6 hrs) Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 135 49.8267 78.0757 586 - 3 inline 000638638 m on + tunnel,weapons development 000000000 unknown yield 587587 dmy 1981 12 27 03:43:16.72 ALMT (6 hrs) Balapan, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: 1312 49.93144 78.7862 587 inline 000330330 m on + underground shaft,weapons development 001500000 150 kt note References RFNC-VNIIEF 1996 USSR Nuclear Weapons Tests and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions 1949 through 1990 Sarov, Russia The official Russian list of Soviet tests. Podvig Pavel 2001 Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces MIT Press Cambridge, MA 9780262661812 https://books.google.com/books?id=CPRVbYDc-7kC&pg=PA453 January 9, 2014 Khalturin Vitaly I. Tatyana G. Rautian Paul G. Richards 2000 10.1007/pl00001153 Chemical explosions during 1961-1989 on the Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan Pure and Applied Geophysics 158 143–171 128953780 http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/sgt/vitaly/VIKh_papers/chemex_at_STS2000.pdf December 13, 2013 March 4, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120004/http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/sgt/vitaly/VIKh_papers/chemex_at_STS2000.pdf dead Nuclear explosions in the USSR: The North Test Site reference material, version 4 December 1, 2004 IAEA Dept. of Nuclear Safety and Security http://www-ns.iaea.org/downloads/rw/waste-safety/north-test-site-final.pdf December 13, 2013 Yang Xiaoping Robert North Carl Romney August 2000 CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) SMDC Monitoring Research Cochran Thomas B. Arkin William M. Robert S. Norris Jeffrey I. Sands Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons Harper and Row New York, NY Thurber Clifford Chad Trabant Florian Haslinger Renate Hartog 2001 10.1016/s0031-9201(00)00215-6 Nuclear explosion locations at the Balapan, Kazakhstan, nuclear test site: the effects of high-precision arrival times and three-dimensional structure Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 123 283–301 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240373396_Nuclear_explosion_locations_at_the_Balapan_Kazakhstan_nuclear_test_site_the_effects_of_high-precision_arrival_times_and_three-dimensional_structure December 13, 2013 Won-Young Kim Paul G. Richards Vitaly Andrushkin Vladimir Ovtchinnikov April 1, 2001 Borovoye digital seismogram archive for underground nuclear tests during 1966-1996 LDEO http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/Monitoring/Data/Brv_arch_ex/brv_text_table.pdf December 13, 2013 Andrushkin Vitaly V. William Leith September 1, 2001 The containment of Soviet underground nuclear explosions USGS Open File Report 01-312 https://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/pdf/USGSOFR01312.pdf December 13, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130509080818/http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/pdf/USGSOFR01312.pdf May 9, 2013 1981 Category:1981 in the Soviet Union Category:1981 in military history Category:1981 explosions