Fallout studies. Project 2. 5. 1 (of) Operation Teapot

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1955

OSTI ID:6355900

Bouton, E H; Hardin, L M; Schumchyk, M J

The purpose of the project was to obtain the data required to close the 1 r/hr at H + 1 hr dose rate contour lines and in so doing obtain information concerning the role of the base surge as a primary carrier of activity, radiation intensities in areas contaminated by fallout, base surge, and in the crater lip region, time of arrival of activity at locations within 2 to 5 miles of ground zero, depth of burial of activity in the crater and on the lip, and air-to-ground correlation factors developed during aerial survey of contaminated areas. This information will be applied to the problem of verifying and extending existing scaling relationships for determination of contamination patterns resulting from underground detonation of nuclear weapons at different scaled depths. Ground and aerial radiation intensity measurements made by this project and others have been used to arrive at contour lines which close the 100 mr/hr at H + 1 hr isodose line and nearly close the 10 mr/hr at H + 1 hr contour. These contours show the area inside the 3000 r/hr at H + 1 hr contour to be roughly 2 times that predicted by existing scaling methods and the area within the 100 r/hr contour to be less than one third that predicted. An analysis of time of arrival date, photography, and all other available data indicates that the base surge carried the fallout and its associated activity in the upwind and crosswind direction. About 90% of the activity on the crater lip was contained in the first 12 inches of depth. Time of arrival data were obtained at seven locations from 300 to 4500 yd from ground zero. The fallout appeared to have traveled downwind at a rate of approximately 2 mph. Gamma intensity measurements made in the fallout area showed dose rate from H + 2 hr to D + 4 days followed T/sup -1/2/ decay. Data were obtained concerning the effect of scaled depth upon such properties as specific activity, activity particle size distribution, and total activity associated with fallout.

• Research Organization: Army Chemical Center, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6355900
• Report Number(s): ITR-1119
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC EXPLOSIONS
DEPOSITION
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPLOSIONS
FALLOUT
FORECASTING
GAMMA RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAPS
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NEVADA TEST SITE
PLUMES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATIONS
SCALING LAWS
TEAPOT PROJECT
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
VELOCITY