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Title: The characteristic release of noble gases from an underground nuclear explosion

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
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Prompt release of gases at the ground surface resulting from explosively propagated vents or large operational releases has typically been considered to be the only mode of transport for detonation gases from an underground nuclear explosion (UNE) giving rise to detectable levels of radioxenon gases in downwind atmospheric samples captured at distances exceeding 100 km. Using a model for thermally and barometrically driven post-detonation transport across the broad surface of a simulated UNE site, we show in conjunction with the results of an atmospheric tracer-release experiment that even deep, well-contained UNEs, without prompt vents or leaks, are potentially detectable tens of kilometers downwind with current technology; distances that are significant for localizing the source of detected atmospheric signals during on-site monitoring or inspection. For a given yield, the bulk permeability of the UNE site and to a lesser extent the depth of detonation appear to be the primary source-term parameters controlling the distance of detection from the detonation point. We propose for test-site bulk permeabilities exceeding 1 darcy (10-12 m2) that broad-area surface fluxes of radioxenon gas exhibit exponential dependence on permeability resulting in order-of-magnitude enhancements of surface flux for changes in permeability of only a darcy. Simulations of subsurface transport assuming a canonical detonation-depth-versus-nuclear-yield relationship generally resulted in larger atmospheric signals for shallower, lower-yield explosions allowing downwind detection at distances greater than 1000 km. Also, atmospheric simulations suggest that the lowest atmospheric boundary layer heights, such as occur at night, produced concentrations above minimum detectable levels at the greatest distances downwind.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1481043
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1512637
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-757461; S0265931X18306313; PII: S0265931X18306313
Journal Information:
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Vol. 196 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0265-931X
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 14 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Coherent microwave scattering from xenon resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization-initiated plasma in air journal February 2020

Figures / Tables (8)

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