Could we survive a nuclear winter? Shocking video reveals the black skies, global famine and 'killing frosts' that could wipe out millions

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There are now more than 15,000 nuclear weapons on this planet, but to plunge Earth into a devastating nuclear winter, all it would take is the detonation of 100.

A new video from Life Noggin reveals how the bombs would send black carbon pumping into the stratosphere, absorbing sunlight and depleting the ozone layer to allow UV radiation to pour in.

Humankind may survive, but the proposed scenario doesn’t bode well for the living conditions on Earth; on top of coping with the aftermath of the blasts, humans would face global famine as temperatures suddenly drop, crops struggle to grow, and ocean life suffers from excess radiation.

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A new video from Life Noggin reveals how the bombs would send black carbon pumping into the stratosphere, absorbing sunlight and depleting the ozone layer to allow UV radiation to pour in

The concept of a nuclear winter was introduced in 1983 by a team of astrophysicists, including Carl Sagan, the video explains.

While the bombs themselves would cause catastrophic damage, the scientists predicted the ensuing nuclear winter would be just as significant.

This is because the bombs would spur massive firestorms, emitting smoke, soot, and dust – and if dropped over major cities, the effect would be even more dramatic.

The video points to a recent study, in which researchers simulated the outcome of a hypothetical nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

For the simulation, they imagined that each country dropped fifty 15 kiloton weapons, roughly the size of the bomb used on Hiroshima, producing copious amounts of black carbon.

Ultimately, the researchers noted in the study, this ‘would self-loft to the stratosphere, where it would spread globally, producing a sudden drop in surface temperatures and intense heating of the stratosphere.’

The researchers say the black carbon from the bombs ‘would self-loft to the stratosphere, where it would spread globally, producing a sudden drop in surface temperatures and intense heating of the stratosphere’

Even the upper 100 meters of the ocean would be effected, the video points out.

As the stratosphere heats up from the influx of black carbon, surface temperatures down below would plummet and there would be ‘major losses’ in the ozone layer, bringing about increased exposure to UV radiation.

This has implications for both health and agriculture.

During the nuclear winter, there would be less rain and a rise in ‘killing frosts,’ which would threaten the survival of those that did manage to grow, limiting the growth time to a much smaller window.

The UV damage would also hinder aquatic life.

According to the researchers, the Earth would cool by about 1.6 degrees Celsius in the five subsequent years. Over the following 20 years, it would warm slightly, bringing it to be about 1.1 degree cooler than it had been

According to the researchers, Earth would cool by about 1.6 degrees Celsius in the five subsequent years.

Over the following 20 years, it would warm slightly, bringing it to be about 1.1 degree cooler than it had been.

But, the losses to the ozone layer would continue on for about a decade.

During the nuclear winter, there would be less rain and a rise in ‘killing frosts,’ which would threaten the survival of those that did manage to grow, limiting the growth time to a much smaller window

As the video reminds, this all happens if just 100 bombs were detonated – an amount that’s far below the 15,000 that currently exist on Earth.

Humans may survive, but if the stakes are higher, the outcome might look far more grim.

‘So if it’s 100 bombs or less, it’s possible that you could survive the famine and other consequences of increased exposure to UV radiation,’ the researchers say.

‘But if there is ever a nuclear war that’s larger, the ensuing nuclear winter might be even more devastating.’ 

As the video reminds, this all happens if just 100 bombs were detonated – an amount that’s far below the 15,000 that currently exist on Earth. Earth may survive, but if the stakes are higher, the outcome might look far more grim