APPENDIX

C

RAD SAFE GAMMA SURVEY READINGS

The following tables contain a fairly complete list of gamma residual radiation readings as obtained by the Task Group 7.1 Radiological
Safety unit. These readings were primarily intended to be used as a
guide for the Rad Safe Unit Commander to determine the conditions for
access of personnel to contamimted areas during the field phase of the
operation. The readings were subject to a multitude of variables, as
wes to be expected in field measurements of this type: readings were
not always taken at the same location on or above the island; winds may

have moved the debris around and concentrated it in “hot spots" and
conversely, "oold spots"; rain may have leached some of the activity
from the debris; and the AN/PDR-39 gamma survey meters which were used

for the surveys were subject to both instrumental and operational errors.

In the field, Rad Safe used a rough "rule of thumb" to convert the

air readings taken from helicopters to ground readings which could be
used as a guide for recovery and working parties in contaminated areas,

The readings at 50 ft or higher above the ground were multiplied by 3

to estimate the corresponding ground readings, and readings taken at
25 ft were multiplied by 2 to estimate the corresponding ground read=ings. It must be borne in mind that these readings are subject to a
variety of influences such as the energies of the radioactive nuclides
in the contaminated area, which may vary with time after the shot, the

size of the island and the radiation field from it, and the radiation
field which may come from the water surrounding the island.

As an ex-

ample of the latter, note the 25 ft readings on Yoke, Zebra, Alfa, and

Bravo on three days after Shot 2. The 25-ft readings are from 2.3 to 5
times higher than the land ground readings as a result of the contamination in the water around these islands. It should also be noted that
secondary fallout ocourred on the Oboe-Tare chain during the night
following Shot 2,
These data are used here with the permission of the Task Group 7.1
Radiological Safety Unit Commander and are included in this report because they provide a background for understanding the results of the
fallout and residual contamination projects. Where several readings
were available from one island on the same day, an average of the readings was usually made, An asterisk by a reading denotes a reading made
by Project 2.5b personnel at the Project 2.5b station on that island.

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