we
After
fleet.
several hours,
the
snow-like material stopped falling on the
This cessation of fallout indicated that the cloud dispensing these
particles, probably extending about 100 miles
eastward.
105 nmi
(160 km)
across, had moved
The time of its passage over the inhabited atoll of Rongelap,
(194 km)
east of Bikini,
is not accurately known and can only be
inferred from its arrival at about 1430 at Rongerik farther east.
The
fallout reconstruction shown in Figure 61 shows the front of the fallout
passing the easternmost portion of Rongelap at 1245 local time.
At Rongerik, 135 nmi
(250 km)
east of Bikini,
25 men of the 6th Weather
Squadron operated a weather observatory for the Weather Reporting Element
(WREP), Test Support Unit, TG 7.4, and 3 men from the 9710th TSU operated
an ionospheric sounder for Project 6.6, TU 13, TG l.
BIKAR ATOLL
BIKINI
ATOLL
570
.
c
Vaoncerik aTout
.
ce
~
AILINGINAE ATOLL
\
UTIRIK ATOLL
TAKA ATOLL
\
U
0
10
Lot
20
a
30
40
S0
oem
60
70
80
90
Lot)
100
NAUTICAL MILES
Oo
\
20
40
i
60
J
80
100 120
140
160
renee
185
KILOMETERS
Figure 61.
CASTLE, BRAVO reconstructed fallout at H+6; 1245 local time
(R/hr). Reconstruction is by NRDL and shows gamma field
levels that would have existed had the fallout been on land
areas (source:
Reference 53).
216