According to a 2017 study by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the six US cities most likely to be targeted in a nuclear attack are:
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Washington, D.C.
- Houston
- San Francisco
These cities are targeted because they are major economic and cultural centers, and they would have a significant impact on the US if they were destroyed.
The study also found that a nuclear attack on any of these cities would have devastating consequences. The blast would kill hundreds of thousands of people, and the resulting firestorm would cause widespread damage. The radiation from the bomb would also contaminate the area, making it uninhabitable for years to come.
The study’s authors warned that the threat of nuclear war is still real, and that the US must take steps to reduce the risk of such an attack. They called for a renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament, and for the development of new technologies to defend against nuclear weapons.
The simulated images you mentioned show the potential effects of a nuclear explosion on each of these cities. The images are based on computer models that take into account factors such as the size of the bomb, the height of the explosion, and the weather conditions.
The images are graphic and disturbing, but they are important to see. They provide a glimpse of the potential devastation that a nuclear attack could cause. It is important to remember that nuclear war is not inevitable, and that we can take steps to prevent it.