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DISCUSSION
The extent of contamination of the water immediately following the
Wahoo detonation was determined by means of gamma survey meters.
This initial survey showed that at W + 1-1/2 one and one-half hours
after Wahoo) the area of contamination extended one and one-half miles
southeast of the target,and at W + 2-1/2, it
west of target zero.
extended about four
miles
The radioactivity of water samples taken at W + 5,
about two miles southwest of target zero, was found mostly above the
thermocline, although some radioactivity was found in the deeper samples.
At W +27, survey meter measurements taken four miles west of
target zero were not significantly greater than the pre-Wahoo levels.
However,
gross beta activity determinations of water from the same
area contained high levels of radioactivity in the uppermost 50 meters
and lesser amounts in the deeper water.
taken at target zero, the
was
in water samples
greatest amount of radioactivity was in the
samples taken below the thermocline.
water
At W+48,
moving horizontally
These data show that the deeper
at aslower rate
than the
water above
the thermocline.
The radioactivity measurements of the plankton showed that in
three days the contamination had extended at least 50 miles to the west
of target zero.
Samples taken 20 miles
to the south,
about 10 hours
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