§ 59. Mr. Dan Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Air what recent estimate has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the effect of nuclear bomb testing upon the weather; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. FraserNo such estimate has been made.
There is no reason to think that nuclear bomb testing has at any time had a significant effect upon the weather. Local releases of energy greater than those caused by man-made explosions are always taking place in the atmosphere. For example, in the tropics there are between 1,000 and 2,000 thunderstorms in progress at any time, each releasing the same energy as a megaton bomb.