BASIC RADIOLOGICAL DATA
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1.3
The monitoring network set up by the hew York Operations
Office for the IVY tests represents the first systematic, world-
Wide radiological monitoring program for an atomic test series.
Various military and AEC establishments performed some sampling
during earlier tests, but no standardized collecting or counting
techniauas ware amoloved nor wee the netwrk of statiene dense
e
enough to delineate fallout patterns,
The only previous health and property hazard monitoring in
the United States for a Pacific test occurred during the GREEN
-.EDUSE series and interest,in future tests was stimulated when a
peak value of 1100 d/m/ft” on a gummed paper exposed for 2)
hours was measured at Rochester, New York (2).
The basic instrumentation for the monitoring networkwas:
gummed paper and high-volume air filter measurements which hai
proved adequate for the previous continental tests (7, 9, 10).
'.In addition, supplementary short-term measurements were made
with air filters, automatically operated equipment, and by
.
special aerial surveys (8).
.
|
“
Figures 1.2 and 1.3 show the location of ‘stations in the |
basic network. Special air filter observations were made at Guan,
Kwajalein, Midway, and Barber's Pt., I.
ail observations from the basic network consisted of ahshour
sampling periods beginning at 1830 GCT each day.
QGumned paper
.observations were made in duplicate on stands located about six
feet apart except for a few stations in the United States where
two different Weather Bureau stations (airport and city offices)
in the.‘sane vicinity were used.
. & large part of the field operation was performed by weather
observers of the Weather Bureau or the Air Force, but in addition
some saupling was done by personnel of the Navy. the Coast Guard.
~
All samples were mailed to the New York Operations Office
ds
hititnesi
of the Atomic Energy Commission, together with a data card showing
the sampling period and relevant weather information. The gummed .
paper and filters were ashed and counted by automatic beta counters.
Since radioactivity was measured several days to a few weeks after
the sample was collected, a growth correction (time extrapolation)
must be applied to obtsin the activity that was present on the
Sampling date. The value ‘of the growth correction depends on the
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