Ground burst

A ground burst is the detonation of an explosive device such as an artillery shell, nuclear weapon or air-dropped bomb that explodes at ground level.

This condition produces substantial amounts of nuclear fallout.

An air burst or a deep subterranean detonation, by contrast, makes little fallout.

The ground shock can damage or destroy hardened structures.

In water, the shock is damaging to nearby vessels and may also produce a surface wave to limited ranges.

Diagram depicting the different stages of a Minuteman III missile path from launch to detonation, with ground burst and airburst at (8).