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Title: Some observations based on the measurements on fresh fallout from the recent Chinese and French nuclear explosions

Journal Article · · J. Geophys. Res., v. 80, no. 36, pp. 5045-5049

China conducted its sixteenth nuclear explosion (fifteenth in the atmosphere) at Lop Nor (40degreeN, 90degreeE) on June 17, 1974. France also started its 1974 test series of nuclear explosions on the same date in the southern hemisphere near Mururoa Atolls (22degreeS, 139degreeW). Radioactive fallout samples from some of these nuclear explosions were collected by swiping certain exposed portions of the aircraft flying between Tokyo/Osaka and Bombay, New York and Bombay (for the Chinese test), and Sydney and Bombay (for the French tests). This paper gives some of our observations based on these studies for samples collected between June 15, 1974, and July 30, 1974. The study involved measurement of a number of radionuclides, i.e., $sup 89$Sr, $sup 99$Mo, $sup 111$Ag, $sup 132$Te, $sup 140$Ba, $sup 237$U, $sup 239$Np, etc. The observed activity ratios for some selected pairs of radionuclides have been interpreted in terms of fissile material used in the device and the type of explosion. (AIP)

Research Organization:
Air Monitoring Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, India
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-33-020197
OSTI ID:
4084909
Journal Information:
J. Geophys. Res., v. 80, no. 36, pp. 5045-5049, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English