STUDIES OF NUCLEAR DEBRIS IN PRECIPITATION

Technical Report · Thu Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4744530

Walton, A; Leo, M W.M.

A study has been made of the deposition Of radioactive fallout at Westwood, N. J., immediately prior and immediately following the atmospheric tests of 1961. Before Sept. 1961, the major sources of radioactivity were the Pacific tests of 1958 while in the first six months of 1962 these same detonations contributed about one-tenth of the deposition of Sr/sup 90/ at Westwood, N. J. The U.S.S.R. test series of late l961 were responsible for the remainder of the debris in 1962. The total deposits of Sr/sup 90/ during the first six months of 1962 and 1959 were almost equal at 20 mc/mi/sup 2/. Knowing the contributions of U.S.S.R. debris to the total fallout in 1959 and 1962 and the worldwide deposition of U.S.S.R. material from 1958 tests, it is calculated that about 1 MC of 1961 U.S.S.R. Sr/sup 90/ has been deposited over the earth's surface to date. It is also suggested that the estimated total yield of 2.5 MC may be about 20% high. Rhodium-102, a unique tracer for U. S. high altitude detonations in Aug. 1958, has been detected and monitored in precipitation since Oct. 1960. Between Jan. 1961 and the resumption of atmospheric tests in Sept. 1961 the contribution of high altitude debris to the total deposition has been increasing. From the Westwood data, a crude calculation of the worldwide deposit of Rh/sup 102/ activity has been made. The result of 0.1 MC is to be compared with the estimnted yield of total Rh/sup 102/ activity from the high altitude burst of 3 MC. Other data tend to suggest that this estimated yield is excessively high. (auth)

• Research Organization: Iostopes, Inc., Westwood, N.J.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-007772
• OSTI ID: 4744530
• Report Number(s): NYO-9533
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
FALLOUT
MEASURED VALUES
NEW JERSEY
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
QUANTITY RATIO
RHODIUM 102
STRONTIUM 90
USA