RADIATION AND TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS OF THE NEPTUNE EVENT

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4019254

Peterson, J D; Bennett, W P

The radiation and temperature distributions and the definition of the zone of effect resulting from the Neptune event, a nuclear detonation fired on October 14, 1958 in a tunnel at the Nevada Test Site are given. The yield of the Neptune event was 115 plus or minus 15 tons. The device was located at a point where the nearest approach to the surface was 98.5 ft and the scaled depth was 210 ft. On detonation, there was considerable venting and upheaval of material. Measurements of the temperature distribution ten months after the detonation revealed that temperatures up to 24 plus or minus 0.5 deg C, which is 10 deg C above the ambient temperature of 14 plus or minus 0.5 deg C, still existed in a region 13 plus or minus 1 ft below ground zero and 5 + 1 ft from ground zero directly opposite the portal. The methods and equipment used in obtaining data from the eleven holes drilled through the zone of effect are also presented. Integrations of the egg-shaped temperature distributions indicated that the total amount of (1.1 plus or minus 0.7) x 10 calories, or 9.6% of the total bomb energy of 11.5 x 10/sup 1//sup 0/ calories. The original cavity confguration, as determined from gamma and alpha activity, was defined as having radii of 60 plus or minus 2 ft from ground zero toward the portal, 18 plus or minus 2 ft below ground zero and 30 plus or minus 2 ft from ground zero directly opposite the portal. (auth)

• Research Organization: California. Univ., Livermore. Lawrence Radiation Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• NSA Number: NSA-15-017887
• OSTI ID: 4019254
• Report Number(s): UCRL-6251
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
HEATING
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INSTRUMENTS
MEASURED VALUES
NEPTUNE
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
RADIATIONS
TEMPERATURE
TUFF
VOLCANICS
ZONES