Effects of Nuclear Testing on Desert Vegetation: Three years later, plants of pioneer character are invading the denuded areas of the Nevada test site.

Detonation of fission-type nuclear devices results in an inner circle of complete denudation of desert shrub vegetation, often about 0.5 mi in radius, surrounded by a zone of partial and selective destruction which is variable in width. The gross injury to vegetation appears to be attributable to mechanical and thermal effects.