3.2 ALTITUDE ABSORPTION MEASUREMENTS
Data on radiation versus altitude, over land, are summarized in Table 3.1. Scintameter
survey meters were used for the measurements during helicopter missions. A Top Hat radiation
detector and a scintameter were used in the P2V-5 aircraft.
The differences in the absolute values of the readings in the P2V-5 are due to the difference
T

rPryyrt

T

TUT

TT Et

(00

T

87 pct of Calibrations

3

o£

|

Radiation , mr/hr

Fell Within These Limits

L

L

/ }
i!

He

4 i]
id!

All Calibrations Were
Within These Limits

TTT

—

0.0! fy

0.007
0.2

_t

0.4

41

0.6

t

0.8

_

1.0

L

2

Reading , milliamperes

Figure 3.1 Summary of 37 pre- and postflight calibrations of Top Hat
radiation detectors.
in the energy response of the two types of detectors.

The scintameter, TH-3, uses a sodium

iodide phosphor, which is more sensitive to soft gamma radiation. The Top Hat detector uses
a plastic phosphor and has a response that is nearly energy-independent. The response of the
two types of instruments is summarized in Figure B.2. Because fresh fission products have a
25

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