RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT IN NORTHERN REGIONS.

• Main Author: Wilson,C.
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER N H
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1967
• Subjects: Meteorology; Radioactiv; Radioactive Wastes & Fission Prod; (*FALLOUT; *NORTHERN HEMISPHERE); ARCTIC REGIONS; NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS; RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES; STRATOSPHERE; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATION; DETONATIONS; TROPOSPHERE; RADIOACTIVITY; CLIMATE; Arctic; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0656448; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0656448

Information and data are given on the distribution of radioactive fallout and atmospheric processes, announced nuclear detonations, and monthly fallout deposition collection. It is pointed out that the 3 dangerous isotopes are Sr-90, Cs-137, and I-131. The data suggest that the Arctic and subarctic stratosphere plays an important role in the retention and release of radioactive fallout, so that, regardless of the latitude at which the debris is injected into the stratosphere, the fallout pattern may be unchanged. There is a close relationship between the tropospheric jet streams and associated cyclonic disturbances and the distribution of fallout at the earth's surface. This hypothesis calls for the transfer of the debris in well-defined layers from the Arctic stratosphere deep down into the troposphere in the vicinity of the jet stream, where subsidence in the rear of cyclonic disturbances and the precipitation processes aid the rapid fall to earth. In the Northern regions, fallout behavior depends on the initial pattern of the westerly vortex at the time of the detonation and its subsequent development. (Author)