Chapter 4 . CONCLUSIONS The following conelusions were reached, based on the empirical results of Project 2.2, and on collateral data obtained from other Castle proj ects: The passage of the shock front from ground zero to and through the detector station has a marked effect on the initlal-games rediation rate for high-yleld weapons. The percentage of total-initlal-garua-rediation exposure received prior and subsaquant to the errival of the shock front was found to te a function of the distances from ground zero. Initial-garza radiation ds of negligible significance since blast and thermal effects in tho seme range of distances ara so great that survival would be possible only if personnel were disposed inside blastand thermal-proof bunkers. / Tha rate of decay of ths residual field radiation from fallout was found to vary with distence and direction from ground zero. Tle rate of decay increas:g rather abruptly several hours after tha cetonation. This may be attributed to the presence of short~lived isotepes in ths residual contamination and to rractionalization of fallout materials. Figure 4.1 indicates that Project 2.2 msasuroments of initial~gauna radiation exposures from thermonuclear cevices of high yield are in good agrecvant with data from "The Nuclear Radiation Handbook," AFSWP 1100. It shculd be noted, hovever, that the Castle Project 2.2 data was one of the sources used In the preparation of the prediction curves of that hand= book. 28 SecRert we en te ce toe .