RADIOACTIVE FALL-OUT FROM ATOMIC BOMBS [electronic resource]
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| Online Access: |
Online Access (via OSTI) |
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| Format: | Government Document Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Washington, D.C. : Oak Ridge, Tenn. :
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission ; distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy,
1953.
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| Subjects: |
| Abstract: | The radioactive fall-out from tower shots of TUMBLER/ SNAPPER and UPSHOT/ KNOTHOLE Test Operations has been plotted in detail utilizing the radiological monitoring logs of the ground and air monitors. It was concluded there is no excessive radioactive fall-out from an atomic bomb if the fireball does not touch the ground. It is possible to detonate some types of shots regardless of weather conditions without producing excessive radioactive contamination. It is possible to delineate the general fall-out area adequately using a simple Stokes' Law analysis of the winds and assuming that the particle size varies from 150 microns to 75 microns,;nd the average density of the particles is 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter. The radex based on the actual wind observations made three hours prior to shot time indicates the general fall-out area adequately. It is suggested that the decision to fire a contaminating tower shot be made after consulting the radex plot based upon the latest available winds prior to shot time. It is estimated that 50,000 to 200,000 tons of sand and soil debris are sucked up into the item and mushroom of an atomic cloud when a nominal bomb is detonated from a 300 ft tower. In view of this, it is suggested that the radioactive fall-out due to the relatively small mass of the tower would be negligible. If it is intended to use soil stabilization to reduce fall-out, the soil within a radius of approximately one mile from ground zero must be stabilized by cement or other permanent methods. Extrapolation of the fall-out information in this report to the case of 10 megaton bombs exploded on the surface indicates that lethal concentration of radioactivity may extend 30 to 50 miles downwind. (auth) |
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| Item Description: | Published through SciTech Connect. 11/01/1953. "c3-36417(del.)" Lulejian, N M. Air Research and Development Command, Andrews AFB, MD (US) |
| Physical Description: | Pages: 66 : digital, PDF file. |