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CHAPTER
THE KING TEST
L.1
BeROpUCTION
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The KING nuclear device was detonated at 2330 GCT, 15 November 1952,
The top of the cloud was estimated to be 75,000 feet
with the“base of the mshroom at approximately 40, 000 feet.
4.2
UPPER WINDS AT TIME OF KING
Figure 4.1 shows the observed winds at Rniwetok before and
after the detonation of KING and the estimated winds at the time
of the test. The trade winds extended to just under 30,000 feet
with westerly winds in the upper troposphere. Atabout 50,000
feet, a second reversal occurred so that in the lower stratosphere
the directions again were from the east. A third reversal occurs
between 70,000 and 75,000 feet and it is likely that the bulk of
the KING mushroom, or perhaps all of it, lay below the west winds
based at about 75,000 feet.
4.3
DISPERSION OF THE KING CLOUD
Figures ). 2, 4.3, and 4.4 show the successive positions of
been prepared for three layers designated as the trade wind portion
(surface to about 30,000 feet), upper tropospheric portion (30,000
feet to 55,000 feet) and the stratospheric portion (55,000 feet to
. aS
75,000 fect).
QS
aa
ced
the various parts of the KING cloud for the first several days
after the explosion. As with the MIKE clouw, the outlines have