Project Cabriolet: research in transport, diffusion, and removal by deposition and scavenging of airborne nuclear cratering debris in support of plowshare technology

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1968

OSTI ID:5102142

Larson, K H; Ramsdell, Jr, J V; Sloot, J W; Newland, D J; Davis, W E; Nielsen, J M

Fallout studies on Shot Cabriolet, a nuclear cratering experiment, in hard, dry rhyolite rock was done as a part of the Plowshare Program. The objectives of this research project were to: collect samples of fallout from 170 to 760 km; determine characteristics of the radioactive particulates; and, interpret the radiological data obtained along the predicted trajectory of the radioactive cloud out to 760 km. Particular emphasis was given to sampling in a location at which the radioactive cloud intersected precipitation (snow). Trajectories for the main cloud based on isentropic analysis were verified by collection of fallout to a distance of approximately 760 km. In addition, deposition and aerosol measurements suggest an initial vented cloud was formed that was detached from the main cloud. The deposition concentrations of /sup 95/Zr, /sup 103/Ru, /sup 144/Ce-Pr were higher on stations 170 to 230 km approximately 045 degrees from ground zero, the trajectory of the vented cloud, than concentrations measured in the Burley, Idaho area, the trajectory of the main cloud. Explanations of these data required a trajectory at an altitude of 3.5 km or higher. Primary atmospheric processes for the vertical dispersion and depletion of the debris from Shot Cabriolet were diffusion and precipiation scavenging. Gravitational settling of particles was insignificant after H + 2 hours travel time. Vertical transport by the mean wind was generally insignificant when compared with postulated vertical diffusion rates. On the basis of the field sampling data a washout coefficient of 1.9 x 10/sup -4/ sec/sup -1/ was estimated for the region between the Burley and Arco-Blackfoot sampling aracs. From this washout coefficient it was estimated that in the area of frontal precipitation one-half of the airborne radionuclide activity was deposited every 61 minutes.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5102142
• Report Number(s): BNWL-836(DEL)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CABRIOLET EVENT
CERIUM 144
CERIUM ISOTOPES
CLOUDS
COLLOIDS
CRATERING EXPLOSIONS
CROSSTIE OPERATION
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXCAVATION
EXPLOSIONS
FALLOUT
FALLOUT DEPOSITS
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEAR EXCAVATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
PRASEODYMIUM 144
PRASEODYMIUM ISOTOPES
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOACTIVE CLOUDS
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTH ISOTOPES
RARE EARTH NUCLEI
RUTHENIUM 103
RUTHENIUM ISOTOPES
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SNOW
SOLS
TRAJECTORIES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WASHOUT
WIND
ZIRCONIUM 95
ZIRCONIUM ISOTOPES