STUDIES OF NUCLEAR DEBRIS IN PRECIPITATION

Technical Report · Thu May 31 04:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4806017

Walton, A; Fisher, E L; Krey, P W

The Be/sup 7/ and P/sip 32/ in 14 precipitation samples from Westwood. N. J. were measured for the purpose of studying fall-out mechanisms. After due allowances were made for rainfall amounts, it was calculated that the deposition at temperate latitudes did not differ greatly from that found in tropical regions. Observed deposition rates agreed quite well with expected rates calculated on the basis of entire production of Be/sup 7/ and P/sup 32/ within the troposphere. Even minor incursions of stratospheric air into the air masses from which the nuclides were derived were not considered highly likely on the basis of the Be/ sup 7//P/sup 32/ ratios observed. Recent tests conducted by Russia resulted in increased deposition of radioactive fall-out at Westwood. The variability of tritium concentrations in monthly composites of precipitation are reported for the period June 1959 to December 1961. Concentrations varied from a peak of 1790 T.U. in 1959 to a low of 93 T.U. in 1960, with individual rainstorms varying over a wider range. Some correlation was noted in the general behavior of the tritium and total beta concentrations in rainfall. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Isotopes, Inc., Westwood, N.J.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-023985
• OSTI ID: 4806017
• Report Number(s): NYO-9532
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
ATMOSPHERE
BERYLLIUM 7
BETA PARTICLES
DISTRIBUTION
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND METEOROLOGY
MEASURED VALUES
MIXING
MONITORING
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PHOSPHORUS 32
QUANTITY RATIO
RAIN
STRATOSPHERE
TRITIUM
TROPOSPHERE
USA
WATER