Soil-Moisture Prediction Method for NRDL Induced-Activity Prediction System,

Abstract

Part of the miattary problem of predicting the gamma-radiation doses at 3 feet above the ground produced by the radioactivity induced in soil elements by neutrons emitted from nuclear air bursts is that of predicting the moisture content in the top soil layer of interest. The greater the moisture content in this layer, the closer to the surface lies the major part of the thermal neutron flux, since hydrogen atoms in the water are highly effective in thermalizing neutrons. Thus, there ss less attenuation of the resulting gamma radiation by the soil. A method of pre dicting the soil moisture content nn the top 6 inches of soil is described. The method, whose computational procedure follows a simplified ''bookkeeping'' form, is based on soil textures and experimental values on daily moisture accretion and depletion for different seasnns of the year. The method is applicable to both free and impeded drainage conditions. The method is demonstrated by simple and complex examples. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 17, 1963
Accession Number
AD0416807

Entities

People

  • E. Laumets

Organizations

  • Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attenuation
  • Corpuscular Radiation
  • Elements
  • Gamma Rays
  • Hydrogen
  • Moisture
  • Moisture Content
  • Neutron Flux
  • Neutrons
  • Nuclear Radiation
  • Radiation
  • Radioactivity
  • Thermal Neutrons

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design