EFFECTS OF ATOMIC EXPLOSIONS ON THE IONOSPHERE

Abstract

Vertical and oblique incidence radio pulse soundings and oblique incidence C-W transmissions were made during Operation TUMBLER-SNAPPER for the purpose of investigating the effect of an atomic explosion upon the ionosphere and upon radio propagation. The observed effects were attributed to the local changes of ion density caused by the blast wave passing through the existing ionized layers. Disturbance to radio propagation was found to exist for only a few minutes, and would have been troublesome to voice communication only. It was found that the observed phenomena may serve as a means of long-range detection of atomic explosions under certain conditions. The value of large explosions as a tool in ionospheric research was also established.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1953
Accession Number
AD0699357

Entities

People

  • Arthur K. Harris
  • Fred B. Daniels

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blast
  • Blast Waves
  • Detection
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Engineering
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Explosives Detection
  • Ion Density
  • Ionosphere
  • New Jersey
  • Nuclear Explosions
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Three Dimensional
  • Voice Communications

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.