“te
activation product radionuclide in the soil, fi.e., those that are gamma
emitters.
Transuranium element gamma emitters are also detected.
Every second,
the equipment records the gamma spectra and position fixing signals on magnetic tape.
,
The tapes containing gamma radiation data for each flight were
printed out and used as an overlay for maps of each island in the field.
The success of this survey (39 islands surveyed in just sixteen days) right
away raised the question of use of this equipment to-expand the data base
for Bikini Atoll where the numbers and locations of radiation measurements
and the amount of spectral data had been limited by dense vegetation and difficult
access.
The initial intent by AEC staff was to plan and conduct an aerial survey of
Bikini Atoll only using the same equipment and contractor, EG&G, as at
Enewetak and with helicopter support provided by the DOD.
In determining
the logistics support that would be required for the Bikini survey it was determined that Bikini Atoll provided little in the way of facilities that could
be used by the survey team and helicopter crews.
A ship would be needed that
could store, launch, and recover helicopters and provide a base of operations
for the survey.
place.
The major costs would be to get the ship and hel{copters in
This raised the prospect that several atolls in the Marshalls could
be surveyed with only a modest additional cost.
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