Height of Burst category that occurs at or near the surface?

• A. Subsurface
• B. Surface
• C. Air
• D. High-Altitude

Answer: (B)

A detonation that happens at or near the surface is called a surface burst. The fireball forms at ground level and the blast interacts directly with the soil and structures on the surface, producing strong ground-shock effects, a significant crater, and heavy local fallout as soil and debris are drawn into the fireball. This is different from subsurface (underground), air (in the air above the ground, with less immediate ground effect), or high-altitude bursts (detonations far above the surface with effects spread over a large area but weaker at the ground). So the correct choice is surface.