What causes a mushroom cloud and was the Beirut explosion nuclear?

A HUGE explosion that rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut in August 2020 created a mammoth mushroom cloud that dwarfed the city.

We explain what causes a mushroom cloud, and why it's not proof of a nuclear detonation.

⚠️ Read our Beirut live blog for the latest news & updates

What is a mushroom cloud and what causes it?

A mushroom cloud is the result of a large explosion.

We usually associate mushroom clouds with a nuclear detonation, but they can be caused by many types of explosion or impact.

The cloud itself is typically made up of debris, smoke and condensed water vapour.

For a mushroom cloud to form, an explosion needs to create a very hot bubble of gas.

Importantly, this bubble of gas needs to have a lower density than the air around it.

That means it moves faster and fills more space than surrounding air.

The gas moves up quickly, dragging up nearby air that is trying to sink – with a central column that rises rapidly.

This is the mushroom "stem".

Eventually, the gas rises high enough that it's no longer less dense than the surrounding air.

So this gas, debris and vapour spill out at all angles, creating the "head" of the mushroom cloud.

Any significant high-energy explosion can create a mushroom cloud – including thermobaric weapons – which is why we associate them with nuclear detonations.

Mushroom clouds can also be created naturally, through volcanic eruptions – or impact events, like a meteor strike.

Was the Beirut explosion nuclear?

On August 4, 2020, a huge explosion in the Lebanon's capital Beirut sent a shockwave across the city – killing scores of people and injuring thousands.

The event was notable for creating a large mushroom cloud that dominated the city's skyline.

But officials have dismissed suggestions that the explosion was caused by a nuclear detonation.

The president of Lebanon said that around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were detonated.

These chemicals are said to have been stored in a port-side warehouse for six years.

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound best known for its use as a high-nitrogen fertiliser.

But it is also used in explosives, particularly for mining, quarrying and construction.

It is a major component in ANFO, which accounts for 80% of industrial explosives used in the USA.

Significant amounts of ammonium nitrate exploding can create a mushroom cloud.

In other news, find out the latest on the Lebanon explosion.

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