Residual Tritium at Sedan Crater. Part 2: Soil and Ejecta Studies
Abstract
Continuing studies of residual tritium in soil or ejecta deposited on the landscape around the Sedan crater, Nevada Test Site, are concerned with the spatial and temporal distribution of THO in the area from the crater lip to 5000 ft from ground zero. Seasonal variations in the concentrations of tritium in soil water occur mainly during the winter rainfall period. Dilution effects were observed to a depth of 3 ft during an unusually high rainfall period (1965-1966). Diluted tritium concentrations in the surface strata of soil (6 in. to 3 ft) increase to almost the predilution levels during the summer as a result of soil moisture movements. When Sedan ejecta occurs as a shallow layer overlying the preshot soil, maximum tritium concentrations are found in this soil, usually at the maximum depth of rainfall penetration, or approximately 3 ft. Maximum concentration of tritium in ejecta on the Sedan crater lip is found at a depth of 4 to 5 ft and is correlated with the depth of ejecta materials found around the crater lip. An inventory of tritium in the Sedan ejecta field was calculated, based upon collections of soil samples along transects of the ejecta-covered area, and to a depth of 6 ft at each site. The tritium inventory measurements are essentially of biologically available water in the soil system. When data are corrected to total soil-water tritium values, the current inventory of tritium outside the Sedan crater in 1967, five years postshot, is 5 to 6% of the estimated inventory of the residual tritium in the ejecta at shot time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 07, 1967
- Accession Number
- ADA382446
Entities
People
- John J. Koranda
- John R. Martin
- Robert Wikkerink
Organizations
- University of California