Norfolk - Peninsula Area (ARMS-11)
Abstract
An Aerial Radiological Measuring Survey (ARMS) of the Norfolk-Peninsula area was made for the Civil Effects Test Operations, Division of Biology and Medicine, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, by Edgerton, Germeshausen & Grier, Inc., between Oct. 16 and 29, 1961. The survey was part of a nationwide program to measure present environmental levels of gamma radiation. Approximately 5000 traverse miles were flown, at an altitude of 500 ft above the ground, in the area, which consists of a 100-mile square centered south of mid way between Williamsburg and Norfolk, Va., and a small extension on the north to overlap the ARMS-I Fort Belvoir survey. The EG&G ARMS-II instrumentation was used in the survey. The data are presented in aeroradloactivity units, or areas with similar gamma radiation rates at 500 ft, at two map scales: (1) generalized at about 1:1,000,000 and (2) detailed at 1: 250,000. The aeroradloactivity in the area is less than 800 counts/sec except for four small areas in the northwest part of the area where it is less than 1200 counts/sec. In much of the area the radioactivity is less than 400 counts/sec. Aerial measurements of ground radioactivity in the ARMS-lI Norfolk-Peninsula area were everywhere consistent with what was expected, considering the geology of the area. Most of the area has a low radioactivity and the surficial materials are mostly sands and gravels, which are commonly weakly radioactive. The western part of the area is slightly more radioactive, which would be expected from the older sedimentary rocks of the coastal plain exposed there in valleys. Artificial radionuclides are probably present in only small quantities because the maximum background gamma radioactivity in many places is less than 200 counts/sec.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 1963
- Accession Number
- ADA421790
Entities
People
- R. B. Guillou