Document Details
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Title:
STRATOSPHERIC CARBON-14, CARBON DIOXIDE, AND TRITIUM ( SCIENCE, SEPTEMBER 4, 1959, VOL 130, NO 3375, PAGES 542-552 )
Author(s):
GRAY, J [ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY]; HAGEMANN, F [ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY]; MACHTA, L; TURKEVICH, A [UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO]
Subject Terms:
HREX
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Publication Date:
1959 Sep 04
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0011
Accession Number:
NV0702335
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 27
OpenNet Modified Date:
2017 Dec 21
Description/Abstract:
THIS ARTICLE REPORTS THE RESULTS OF MEASUREMENTS MADE OF 14CARBON, CARBON DIOXIDE, AND TRITIUM IN THE STRATOSPHERE. THE PURPOSE OF THE MEASUREMENTS WAS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THE STRATOSPHERIC CONCENTRATIONS OF 14CARBON AND TRITIUM PRODUCED BY THE EXPLOSION OF NUCLEAR DEVICES AND TO STUDY THE CHANGES IN THESE CONCENTRATIONS WITH TIME. A HELIUM FILLED BALLOON WAS USED TO COLLECT SAMPLES OF AIR AT AN ELEVATION OF 80,000 FEET. IT WAS FOUND THAT DUE TO ATOMIC TESTS UP TO OCTOBER 31, 1958, THE NUMBER OF 14CARBON ATOMS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TROPOSPHERE HAD INCREASED BY 17 PERCENT. IF THE 14CARBON ATOMS WERE MIXED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ATMOSPHERE, THE TOTAL TROPOSPHERIC CONCENTRATION OF 14CARBON WOULD BE 1.75 TIMES THE NATURAL CONCENTRATION. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT THIS CONCENTRATION WILL EVER BE MORE THAN 1.5 TIMES THE NORMAL CONCENTRATION DUE TO THE ATOMS FALLING BACK TO THE EARTH AS CALCIUM CARBONATE. A TEST ON JANUARY 1, 1958, REVEALED THAT THE STRATOSPHERIC CONTENT OF TRITIUM WAS 4 TIMES THAT OF THE NORMAL CONTENT OF TRITIUM. THE RAPID REMOVAL OF TRITIUM FROM THE TROPOSPHERE BY PRECIPITATION PUTS MOST OF NONSTRATOSPHERIC TRITIUM IN THE OCEANS.