On the geomagnetic effect of the Starfish high-altitude nuclear explosion

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1964 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ069i005p00917· OSTI ID:4082588

Maeda, H.; Shirgaokar, A. J.; Yasuhara, M.; Matsushita, S.

A high-altitude nuclear explosion, called Starfish, over Johnston Island on July 9, 1962, produced a distinct geomagnetic effect at stations all over the world. This effect consisted of two major parts: initial rapid oscillations followed by slower changes. The rapid oscillations began within several seconds after the shot, and were caused by the propagation of E LF (extremely-low- frequency electromagnetic waves) and hydromagnetic waves. The slower changes reached a maximum a few minutes after the shot and lasted about half an hour. The worldwide pattern of these slow changes indicates that they were due not to a single effect but to a superposition of different effects. A quantitative estimation is made of these slow changes, taking into consideration ionospheric variations, and the results of these estimations are compared with the observed changes.

• Research Organization: Kyoto Univ.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-015022
• OSTI ID: 4082588
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 69; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
EARTH
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
FREQUENCY
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MOTION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OSCILLATIONS
VARIATIONS