air bursts
Explosions above ground
Air bursts are explosions that occur in the atmosphere above ground level rather than on impact with the surface.
The term applies especially to nuclear weapons detonated at altitude to maximize blast radius and destruction: The bomb was set for an air burst at 2,000 feet.
Air bursts also describe artillery shells fused to detonate above targets, showering shrapnel downward.
- explosionViolent burst of energy
- fireballLuminous meteor or explosion
- mushroom cloudDistinctive nuclear blast formation
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- blastSudden forceful burst
shockwave · sonic boom · thunderclap · blast radius · ground zero · high explosive · microburst · supernovae · combustion · overpressure · artillery shell · bombs · discharges · aerial bombardment · carpet bombing · ordnance · pressure wave · shrapnel