airburst

Airburst refers to an explosion that occurs in the atmosphere rather than at ground level or on impact. In military usage, airbursts are produced by fuzes that detonate a munition at a prescribed altitude above the target. This mode is designed to maximize blast overpressure, fragmentation distribution, and thermal effects over a wide area, making it effective against exposed personnel and soft targets while often minimizing crater formation on the surface. The height of burst, aerodynamics, weather conditions, and munition design together determine the damage pattern, with higher bursts favoring broad fragmentation and more uniform overpressure, and lower bursts delivering more ground shock and localized damage.

Airbursts are contrasted with surface or ground bursts, which release a larger portion of energy into the ground, creating bigger craters and focusing damage at a point on or near the surface. In addition to military applications, the concept informs safety and planning for urban warfare, artillery design, and protective construction, where the altitude of an explosion affects casualty risk and structural response.

The term airburst also appears in astronomy and meteorology to describe the disintegration of a meteoroid in Earth’s atmosphere, releasing energy before reaching the surface. Notable examples include the 2013 Chelyabinsk event, where a meteor exploded in the atmosphere, generating a bright flash and powerful shock waves that caused widespread glass breakage and minor injuries.

Overall, airburst dynamics depend on altitude, target characteristics, and atmospheric conditions, shaping the extent and distribution of damage.