Aircraft Field Exercise to Develop Multi-Spectral and Infrared Imaging for CTBT On-Site Inspections
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) permits Multi-Spectral and InfraRed Imaging (MSIR) to be performed as part of an On-Site Inspection (OSI) for the purpose of reducing the search area for the location of a possible underground nuclear explosion (UNE). Dedicated airborne MSIR measurements have not been made in conjunction with historical or recent UNE’s. Satellite data has been used to show that MSIR observables can be used to reduce the search area, but the satellite data do not have the spatial resolution or spectral and thermal capabilities desired to fully characterize the MSIR observables. Consequently, there is insufficient information currently available to confidently specify an MSIR instrument to be used on an Additional Overflight as part of an OSI. The potential MSIR observables are known, but not well characterized. The possibility of using airborne MSIR measurements to characterize some of those observables has been assessed here for a variety of field exercise scenarios. The main challenge in making aircraft measurements is to have confidence that the field conditions will accurately reproduce the MSIR observable compared to a UNE. The four types of events expected to generate relevant MSIR observables are (1) underground coal fires, (2) road traffic measurements, (3) underground mining operations, and (4) certain carefully staged explosions, such as the Source Physics Experiment.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 1121382
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-TR--460416
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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