an enormous explosion in 1945

On August 12,1945 (during WWII), there was an enormous explosion at sea off the coast of a northern Korean city. It has long been rumored to have been an atomic explosion (by the Japanese, who occupied the area). I believe it was more likely a chemical explosion. Nearby was the largest nitrogen fertilizer plant in the Far East where ammonium nitrate was manufactured. Here's my question...

The following is a eyewitness's description of the explosion. Assuming the explosion was caused by barge full of ammonium nitrate that hit a mine or was struck by a torpedo 1) how much energy (in kt of TNT) would you estimate the explosion to be and 2) How much ammonium nitrate would you estimate was in that barge to produce an explosion of that size?

"The ball of fire was estimated to be 1,000 yards in diameter. A multicolored cloud of vapors boiled toward the heavens then mushroomed in the stratosphere."

Thank you.

Bill Streifer
 
__________________________________________
Bill Streifer & Irek Sabitov
The Flight of the Hog Wild
http://www.my-jia.com/The_Flight_of_the_Hog_Wild

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thechemistrycluster/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thechemistrycluster/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    [email protected] 
    [email protected]

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    [email protected]

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/