STUDIES OF NUCLEAR DEBRIS IN PRECIPITATION

Technical Report · Sun Mar 31 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4718120

Walton, A; Leo, M W.M.

Results are presented for the deposition of short- and long-lived radioactive nuclides at Westwood, N. J., during 1961 and 1962, and the origin of the debris during various intervals is discussed. During the two-year intervai four distinct periods can be characterized according to the composition of the debris: Jan. to Sept. 1961. relatively old material most likely originating in tests performed in 1958 and earlier; Sept. 1961 to May 1962, debris predominantly from USSR trials of 1961; May to Sept. 1962, fresh debris from U. S. Pacific series of 1962 readily apparent; and Sept. to Dec. 1962, increased quantities of younger material in precipitation indicated the presence of fresh USSR debris from their 1962 testing operations. Although the fission yield of the 1961 Soviet series of tests was reportedly greater than the 1958 trials, the deposition of Sr/sup 90/ at Westwood, N. J., was less in the first half of 1962 than in the corresponding period of 1959. An examination of the seasonal oscillations in the deposition of fallout on a global scale is presented. Spring peaks in deposition and concentration of fallout, while they appear to be universal in distribution, tend to be most probable and most pronounced in the mid-latitudes of both hemispheres. Possible mechanisms are offered to explain the nonoccurrence of seasonal variations. Under certain conditions different nuclides exhibit their maxima at different times in a given year, and the cause of this effect is discussed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Isotopes, Inc., Westwood, N.J.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-020242
• OSTI ID: 4718120
• Report Number(s): NYO-9534
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DISTRIBUTION
EARTH
EFFICIENCY
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
GEOPHYSICS
HALF-LIFE
HEALTH AND SAFETY
LEVELS
METEOROLOGY
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
RAIN
SEASONS
STRONTIUM 90
VARIATIONS