Radioactive debris from Operations Upshot and Knothole
During Operations Upshot and Knothole in the Spring of 1953, data for evaluating the effects of radioactive debris on health and sensitive industry were obtained by radiological counting of settled dust from a world-wide sampling network and of filtered samples from points in seven western states. Three of the test explosions, numbers 2, 7 and 9, accounted for 78% of the measured radioactive fallout. Mobile teams deployed across the paths of the radioactive clouds collected air samples containing detectable concentrations of radioactivity after bursts 1, 2, 6, 7, 9 and 11. An unusually heavy fallout occurred at Salt Lake City on March 24th, the day of burst 2. It amounted to 28,000,000 d/m/ft/sup 2/ extrapolated to its probable time of occurrence, twelve hours after the explosion. Activity of about the same or slightly lower order came down with heavy rain in Albany on April 26th, the day after burst 7. Reports of abnormal radiation readings in Troy led to an aerial survey of the Hudson Valley which disclosed a point of maximum radioactivity slightly south of Albany. The maximum cumulative fallout between consecutive bursts was 30,000 d/m/ft/sup 2/, extrapolated to January 1, 1954, and occurred at Las Vegas, Nevada, after burst 7. Bursts 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 were followed by very little fallout and there are indications that some of it may have been due to earlier bursts. Data on particle size and on decay rates are reported. The most intensive coverage was provided in the United States. Data provided by a world-wide network of lower density are presented in an appendix. Fallout in foreign countries was of a lower order than in the United States.
- Research Organization:
- USAEC Health and Safety Lab., New York
- OSTI ID:
- 6314156
- Report Number(s):
- NYO-4552; ON: TI84017620
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production. Declassified 22 Aug 1962
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FALLOUT
RADIATION MONITORING
ACTIVITY LEVELS
ATMOSPHERIC EXPLOSIONS
DUSTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PARTICLE SIZE
DATA
EXPLOSIONS
INFORMATION
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
SIZE
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500300 - Environment
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