- Kurt_Laughlin
The test on that date was SNAPPER-DOG, a 19kT airburst. Typically airbursts don't leave a crater.
The depression looks more like a sinkhole (no raised lip) caused by the collapse of underlying material. It may have even existed before the test, given that there is debris within the hole.
KL
A properly executed airburst doesn't leave a crater. However if the airburst goes off too low, or the yield is larger than expected than the burst can make contact with the ground causing cratering as well as the spread of contaminated soil ( a proper airburst limits the sppread of contamination by not having distubed soil which can be carried by wind)
As far as a sinkhole I started wondering. If the conditions were right for the area to develop sinkholes (usually it means there are large voids under the surface that are marginally supported after the removal of groundwater) Would an airburst over the area cause sinkholes with the overpressure causing the ground to collapse into the void?