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32

ground would be about 15 hours.

If it is assumed that the area c

the fall-out from this stem top is proportional to the square of

downwind, the area covered would be about 10,000 mi*,-

«

red by

fhe distance

If it 4s ¢

ther

assumed that if this area contained 50 percent of Mike, there wou id be an

average concentration 5.8 wemi” at 15 hours; the time the debris
have reached the ground.

would

The circular srea on Fig. 1 indicates the

extent of the area affected.

It must be concluced that if such a high average ccncentrati

bn Were

produced, peak concentrations might be high enough to be exceedinkly
dangerous.

It can sliso be seen, by superposing Fig. 1 on a chart of the

area around Eniwetok, that, if this debris did in fact fall out,
no fall-out measurement to detect it.

there was

The problem of the voria-u}de

distribution of Mike debris will take on a vastly different aspec Lb if 50
to 8C percent of the debris fell undetected on the ocean.

The pr bolem

of

radiological safety will also be made much more difficult if plan

must

be made to keep personnel trom such large areas.

state

With the presen

of ignorance of the reality and magnitude of the fall-out from megaton
range bombs, it is necessary to insure that there is proper doc

ntation

ot the fall-out from future tests.

ARDC,

(1)

Lule jian, N.M., Radioactive Fall-out from Atomic Bombs, Hq.,
November, 1953.

(2)

Operation JANGLE, Summary Report: Weapon EvTects Test, Wr—-4il,
AFSWP, November, 1952.

(3)

Operation IVY; Nature, Intensity, and Distribution of Fali-oft from Mike

Shot, NRDL, April, 1953.

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