Book Description
This report assesses the potential policy implications of new findings concerning the long-term atmospheric, climatic and biological effects of nuclear war, commonly referred to as nuclear winter. A summary of the prominent study of these effects, The Global Atmospheric Consequences of Nuclear War by Turco, Toon, Ackerman, Pollack and Sagan (TTAPS) is provided. Potential policy implications are examined regarding nuclear weapons strategy and deterrence, extended deterrence, targeting, C3I and damage assessment, future R & D and force modernization, strategic defense systems, arms control, civil defense and the strategic implications of U.S. and Soviet perceptions of nuclear winter. Issues and questions for further research are addressed. Keywords: Nuclear Weapons Effects; Climatic Effects of Nuclear War; Deterrence; Targeting; Nuclear Strategy; U.S.-Soviet Relations; and U.S. Security.