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STUDIES OF NUCLEAR DEBRIS IN PRECIPITATION. Progress Report No. 6

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4032638
The variability of Ce/sup 144/ and Sr/sup 90/ concentrations in precip itation at Westwood, N. J. was investigated. Comparison of the Westwood results with the data from other observation stations in the U. S. indicates similar trends in the Ce/sup 144// Sr/sup 90/ ratios at all sites, but marked differences in the absolute values of the Ce/sup 144//Sr/sup 90/ ratios from one station to another. The general behavior may indicate that increasing quantities of material from the high altitude rocket shots (Teak and Orange) were incorporated in precipitation during the spring of 1960. Calibration errors and errors due to the collection of nuclear debris resuspended in the air from the surface of the earth are considered as possible sources of the differences in absolute values of the measured Ce/sup 144//Sr/sup 90/ ratios. Resuspension is shown to be extremely unlikely as an important mechanism. The problem of the negative correlation which was found between the concentration of Sr/sup 90/ in soils and the amount of precipitation at the soil site is considered further. It is shown that the seasonal distribution of precipitation at the various sites is probably of minor importance in producing the above relationship. Several local meteorological parameters, including tropopause height, relative humidity, Showalter Index, and cloud top heights were examined to determine their effect on Sr/sup 90/ concentrations in precipitation; but most show little correlation. One exception, perhaps, is the difference between tropopause heights and the heights of the precipitation cells, which exhibits a fairly good correlation with the Sr/sup 90/ concentration at Westwood, N.J. (auth)
Research Organization:
Isotopes, Inc., Westwood, N.J.
NSA Number:
NSA-15-023767
OSTI ID:
4032638
Report Number(s):
NYO-9529
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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