UNCLASSIFIED
POLARIZATION OF ATMOSPHERE #Y ATOMIC DEBRIS
Memorandums of Discussion with By. Zdenek Sekere, U. C. L. A.
WoW
I have talked witr or
Ke.log
Sekera, and have «cme tc the following general
conclusions.
© The atomic cloud from « large explosion would have a measurable
effect on the
light-scattering ability
of the atmosphere, at least
for the first
few days of its existerce
© There are certair oaturel fluctuatiors of the scattering of sunlight due to air mass changes, changes in turbulence, etc., and
these natura. fluctuations could mag?
the passage of the atomic
Cloud over a statior.
o Surface observations have been made at Los Argeles and at Table
Mountain (alt. 7000 or 3000 ft: -¢ the Light scattering of the
atmosphere and the sky polarizatior
The
{Described further below.)
observations are poesible only when there are no clouds in the
sky, since ever distant clouds will effect the {liumination of the
atmosphere overhead
due to tne‘ reflected sunlight.
Thus, the
method cannot »e used with anv reliability from the ground except
under clear weather conditions.
Prom a high-flying aircraft one
might be aple to get observations wit" more frequency, since one
could be above low clouds and could allow for the reflected sunlight
from low cLlouda by maneuvering the path of the airplane so as to
balance out the illumination “rom 4ifferen” areas of cloudiness.
wees
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