roentgen.
(R; r) A special unit of exposure to gamma (or X-) vadiation.
{[t 1s defined prec'sely as the
quantity of gamma (or X-) rays that will produce electrons (in ion pairs) with a total charge of 2,58
x 10-* coulomb 1n i xilogram of dry air under standard conditions.
An exposure of 1 roentgen resuits
in the deposition of about 94 ergs of energy in 1 gram of soft dody tissue,
Hence, an exposure of
7
“4
“4
~<
7»
nM
uw
Cc
> roentgen 1s approximately equivalent to an absorbed dose of 1 rad in soft tissue.
Radiological Safety Support Unit (Army).
Radio teletype.
SA-16. Air Force general purpose amphibian for air-sea rescue work. Manufactured by Grumman Aircraft
Engineering Corporation, New York. Redesignated UY-16.
Jsed in CASTLE for search and rescue.
SAC.
Strategic Air Command (Air Force).
sampler aircraft.
Aircraft used for collection of gaseous and particulate samples from nuclear clouds to
determine the level of radioactivity or the presence of radioactive substances.
So.
Sandia Corporation, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
scattering.
The diversion of radiation (thermal, electromagnetic and nuclear) from its original path as a
rasuit of interactions (or collisions) with atoms, molecules, or larger particles in the atmosphere
er other media between the source of the radiations (e.g., a nuclear explasion) and a point some
distance away. As a result of scattering, radiations (especially gamma rays and neutrons) will be
received at such a point from many directions instead of only from the direction of the source.
See
also skyshine.
SCEL.
Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories, Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey (Army).
scintillation. A flash of light produced by ionizing radiation in a fluor or a phosphor, which may be
crystal, plastic, gas, or liquid.
shear (wind).
Refers to differences in direction (directional shear) of wind at different altitudes.
shielding. Any material or obstruction that absorbs (or attenuates) radiation and thus tends to protect
personnel or equipment from the effects of a nuclear explosion. A maderately thick layer of any
opaque material will provide satisfactory shielding from thermal radiation, but a considerable thick-
ness of material of high density may be needed for gamma radiation shielding.
See also attenuation.
shock. Term used to describe a ‘destructive force moving in air, water, or Earth caused by detonation of a
nuclear detonation.
shock wave. A continuously propagated pressure pulse {or wave) in the surrounding medium, which may be
air, water, or Earth, initiated by the expansion of the hot gases produced in an explosion.
sievert (Sv).
A recently introduced ICRP measure of "dose equivalent" that takes into account the “quality
actor“ of different sources of ionizing radiation.
S10.
One sievert equals 100 rem.
Scripps [nstitution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California.
skyshine. Radiation, particularly gamma rays from a nuclear detonation, reaching a target from many directions as a result of scattering by the oxygen and nitrogen in the intervening atmosphere.
slant range.
The straight-line distance of an aircraft at any altitude from ground zero or the distance
from an airburst to a location on the ground.
SRI.
Stanford Research Institute, Stanford, California.
stratosphere. Upper portion of the atmosphere, approximately 7 to 40 miles (11 to 64 km) above the
Earth's surface, in which temperature changes but Tittle with altitude and cloud formations are rare.
surface burst.
surface zero.
point.
A nuclear explosion on the land surface, an island surface or reef, or on a barge.
See ground zero.
Also the Tocation on the ground surface directly above an underground zera
surveymeters. Portable radiation detection instruments especially adapted for surveying or inspecting an
area to establish the existence and amount of radiation present, usually from the standpoint of radiological protection.
Survey instruments are customarily powered by self-contained batteries and are
dasigned to respond quickly and to indicate directly the exposure rate conditions at the point of interest. See AN/PDR-36, Geiger-Mueller counter, and ion-chamber-type survey meter.
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