Origin of High Tritium Content of Atmospheric Methane, Hydrogen and Stratospheric Water

Journal Article · Sat Dec 30 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Nature (London)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/1921279a0· OSTI ID:4811439

WOLFGANG, RICHARD

Discussion is given on the hypothesis that tritiated methane may be produced in the fireball of a bomb. in a reducing atmosphere. Following detonation of a bomb, the hot gas formed from bomb material pushes back the surrounding atmosphere to form a reducing core within the fireball. On cooling to about 3000 deg C, the core contracts to a diameter approaching 100 meters, assuming some reasonable mass of the original weapon. During this state the fireball is isothermal, and it is likely that the large reducing core will mix with its oxidizing surroundings. On further cooling its contents will form molecular species. The tritium may be expected to combine largely as metal hydrides. molecular hydrogen, water, ammonia, and hydrocarbons including methane. The hypothesis of a reducing core in a nuclear explosion fireball also suggests that the high tritium content of atmospheric hydrogen of the thermonuclear era arises directly, and is not dependent on an exchange between molecular hydrogen and tritiated water. Suggestions are given for checking the validity of the hypothesis. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Diego and La Jolla
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-007763
• OSTI ID: 4811439
• Journal Information: Nature (London), Journal Name: Nature (London) Journal Issue: 4809 Vol. 192; ISSN 0028-0836
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AMMONIA
ATMOSPHERE
COOLING
GASES
GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND METEOROLOGY
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
ION EXCHANGE
METHANE
MIXING
MOLECULES
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OXIDATION
QUANTITY RATIO
RAIN
REDUCTION
STRATOSPHERE
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
TRITIUM
WATER