Statistical design and analysis of environmental studies for plutonium and other transuranics at NAEG ''safety-shot'' sites
This paper is centered around the use of stratified random sampling for estimating the total amount (inventory) of $sup 239-240$Pu and uranium in surface soil at ten ''safety-shot'' sites on the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and Tonopah Test Range (TTR) that are currently being studied by the Nevada Applied Ecology Group (NAEG). The use of stratified random sampling has resulted in estimates of inventory at these desert study sites that have smaller standard errors than would have been the case had simple random sampling (no stratification) been used. Estimates of inventory are given for $sup 235$U, $sup 238$U, and $sup 239-240$Pu in soil at A Site of Area 11 on the NTS. Other results presented include average concentrations of one or more of these isotopes in soil and vegetation and in soil profile samples at depths to 25 cm. The regression relationship between soil and vegetation concentrations of $sup 235$U and $sup 238$U at adjacent sampling locations is also examined using three different models. The applicability of stratified random sampling to the estimation of concentration contours of $sup 239-240$Pu in surface soil using computer algorithms is also investigated. Estimates of such contours are obtained using several different methods. The planning of field sampling plans for estimating inventory and distribution is discussed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1830
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-002980
- OSTI ID:
- 4137718
- Report Number(s):
- BNWL-SA-5505; CONF-751105-6
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: IAEA international symposium on transuranium nuclides in the environment, San Francisco, California, USA, 17 Nov 1975; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
N44340 -Environmental & Earth Sciences-Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport-Ecosystems & Food Cycles
N48730 -Life Sciences-Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-Plants
N42500 -Engineering-Nuclear Explosions
510300* -Environmental Sciences
Terrestrial-Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport
*NEVADA TEST SITE- RADIATION MONITORING
*PLANTS- SAMPLING
*PLUTONIUM 239- RADIATION MONITORING
*PLUTONIUM 240- RADIATION MONITORING
*SAMPLING- STATISTICAL MECHANICS
*SOILS- SAMPLING
*TONOPAH TEST RANGE- RADIATION MONITORING
*URANIUM 235- RADIATION MONITORING
*URANIUM 238- RADIATION MONITORING
ALGORITHMS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
DEPTH
ENVIRONMENT
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RETENTION FUNCTIONS