2. Historical Resume
2.1
Nuclear Test series in the Marshall Islands
Seven series of tests involving the detonation of 59
nuclear devices were conducted by the United States in the
Marshall Islands during the interval July 1946,through July
1958.
Griggs and Press
(1960) have summarized available
unclassified information relative to these tests.
2.2
Early Environmental Studies
In the spring of 1946,
the initial series of tests,
Eniwetok,
just prior to the beginning of
environmental studies of Bikini,
Rongerik and Rongelap Atolls were undertaken by the
Underwater Studies Group of the U.
S. Navy Bureau of Ships
with the cooperation of the Geological Survey, Military Intelligence Division of the Chief of Engineers,
Institution,
the Smithsonian
the University of California's Scripps Institu-
tion of Oceanography and Division of War Research,
University of Michigan (Revelle,
1954).
and the
Following the deto-
nations a radiobiological survey of Bikini Atoll was undertaken
by the Applied Fisheries Laboratory of the University of
Washington,
the first of many such surveys to study the effects
of nuclear weapons tests on marine biota.