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Title: Operation Jangle Project 2. 0 - predicted scaling of radiological effects to operational weapons Report for October-November 1951

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5534530

This report predicts the radiological contamination that may result from fission bombs detonated near the surface of the earth and underground. The radiation received is primarily a result of the initial radiation from the early fission products and fallout of radioactive material from the high cloud. The distribution of the fallout is determined by constructing a mathematical model and adjusting the parameters of the model to fit actual Jangle data. The model is then scaled up to larger weapons by scaling these parameters in conformity with existing formulations of nuclear-explosion cloud dynamics. The initial radiation is calculated in a straightforward manner. The resulting dose and dose-rate contours are given, as are the areas enclosed by given contours. It is concluded that the base surge at the Jangle underground nuclear explosion did not contain an appreciable amount of radioactive material, and this will probably also be true for operational weapons except at very great explosion depths. The cratering action of explosives is discussed, and it is found that atomic bombs exploded near the earth surface should give crater radii which sale as the one-sixth power of the energy release rather than the one-third power scaling applicable to high explosives.

Research Organization:
Kaman Tempo, Santa Barbara, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5534530
Report Number(s):
AD-A-995274/8/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English