Radioactivity Background and Oceanographic Conditions in the Pacific Proving Grounds at the Start of Operation Redwing
Abstract
Background radioactivity and oceanographic conditions in the Pacific Proving Ground are of significance; in evaluating the contaminating effects of REDWING events, in the understanding of the fallout problem at sea and extrapolation to land fallout patterns. Thus, as a part of Project 2.62, a month-long study has been made of radioactivity in water, organisms, and bottom sediments, and of currents and physical character of the water over a 140,000 square mile area around Bikini Atoll. The waters are slightly radioactive, with values of 150 to 1500 gamma counts per minute per liter (cpm/1), whereas the natural radioactive background, due to potassium-40, is about 94 cpm/1. A field of maximum activity (800 to 1500 cpm/1) exists at 800 to 1200 meters depth at locations to the west of Bikini Atoll, within 150 miles of it, and between 10 1/2 deg and 13 1/2 deg N. Radioactivity is associated with particulate matter (possible organic) at the surface only; at all other depths it is mostly in solution. Organisms collected from the upper layers and deep sea fauna captured in a travel as deep as 2500 meters depth are about equally radioactive; the level of activity in these marine creatures is about 30 to 50 times as much per unit weight as that in equivalent weight of water. Lagoon waters and surface waters in the open sea around the lagoons are slightly more radioactive than other areas (1100 to 2100 cpm/1).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 1956
- Accession Number
- ADA367748
Entities
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography