DOCSLIB.ORG

Seismometric Estimates of Underground Nuclear Explosion Yields

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Seismometric Estimates of Underground Nuclear Explosion Yields FOA 4 Happort C 4464-26 Juni 1971 SEISMOMETRIC ESTIMATES OF UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR EXPLOSION YIELDS U Ezdcsson FÖRSVARETS FORSKNINGSANSTALT AVDELNING k. Stockholo FOA RAPPORTK' /EGORIER Kapporter avsedda för spridning uta; ' r FOA utges i följande katego- rier: FOA A-rapport. Innehåller huvudsak-' •en för totalförsvaret avsedd och tillrättalagd redovisning av ett, som .:• gel avslutat, arbete. Förekom- mer som öppen (A-) och hemlig (AI ) rapport. FOA B-rapport. Innehåller för vida/ * spridning avsedd redovisning av öppet vetenskapligt eller tekniskt-v* v.enskapligt originalarbete av all- mänt intresse. Utges i FOA skriftserie "FOA Reports" eller publice- ras i FOA utomstående tidskrift, i ' Jket senare fall särtryck distri- bueras av FOA under beteckningen ' FOA Reprints't! FOA C -rapport. Innehåller för spridning inom och utom FOA (i vissa fall enbart inom FOA) avsedd redovisning av arbete, t ex i form av del- rapport, preliminärrapport eller metodikrapport. Förekommer som öppen (C-) och hemlig (CH-) rapport. FOA-RAPPORTS STATUS FOA-rapports status är att författaren (författarna) sva.var för rappor- tens innehåll, t ex för att angivna resultat är riktiga, för gjorda slut- satser och rekommendationer etc. FOA svarar - genom att rapporten godkänts för utgivning som FOA- rapport - för att det redovisade arbetet utförts i överensstämmelse med "vetenskap och praxis" på ifrågavarande område. I förekommande fall tar FOA ställning till i rapporten gjorda bedöm- ningar etc - detta anges i så fall i särskild ordning, t ex i missiv. FOA-RAPPORTS REGISTRERING From den 1. 7. 1966 registreras FOA-rapport enligt följande exempel: FOA 1 rapport A 1678-32(37) rapportkategori forskningsområde till vilket rappor- kod för utgivande avd (motsv) ten i för sta (andra) (FOA A, Moch Index - 0 hand är hänförlig 1 1 löpnummer (inom grup - 2 2 pen A-rapporter utgivna 3 3 av FOA 1) 4 4 P 8) FOA Repro Stockholm 1970 Försvarets forskningsanstalt FOA 4 rapport Avdelning 4 C 4464-26 Stockholm 80 Juni 1971 SEISMOMETRIC ESTIMATES OF UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR EXPLOSION YIELDS by Ulf Ericsson Antal blad 84 FOA kostnadsnr: 473 A1 61 Nyckelordt Kärnladdningsexplosioner, seisroologi, detektering Nuclear explosions, seismology, detection Rapporten utsänd till: UD/Pol IV (3 ex), Fst, FortF, FHS (2 ex), MHS, SkyddS, Fysiska inst Sthlm univ, Seism inst Uppsala (2 ex), Inst f geodesi KTH (2 ex), Inst f geofysik Uppsala (2 ex), FOA 3 (2 ex), FOA P FOA 4: 420, 470 (100 ex), 471 (3 ex), 472 (2 ex), 473 (3 ex), 478 (3 ex), 48 J_ Page la Summary A linear and stochastic model of the connection between seismic surface and body wave magnitudes ana the energy yield of under- ground nuclear explosions is adapted to the maximum likelihood estimation of yields from magnitudes measured in seismograph station networks. Standard deviations and confidence ranges are also obtained. Application to the calibratea situation of explosions in the yield range from 70 to 1200 kilotons in the Pahute Mesa at the Nevada Test Site and magnitudes from Canadian stations shows that the precision of such estimates, as measured by the standard devia- tion of the logarithm of the yield, ranges from 0,3 with one average body wave statior to 0.03 when 19 body vave stations and 19 surface wave stations are used, the latter precision being well comparable with radiochemical yield determinations. The yield estimate from one average surface wave station is as precise as the joint estimate from four average body wave stations. Applications to a few explosions with known yields outside the Pahut-t. Mesa but at the Nevada Test Site and also in New Mexico and Colorado had an average logyield accuracy of very roughly * 0.2. For explosion? under Amchitka Island the model was numerically unsuitable. The ratio of yields estimated from surface and body vaves is employed as a yield independent indicator of departure from the conditions at the reference sources in Pahute Mesa. The surface wave yields from ex- plosions under Yucca Flat at Nevada Test Site are systematically only half of the body wave yields. The possibility of such source area biases reduces the yields seismometrically estimated for other source areas than Pahute Mesa, to equivalent yields. Such yields are affected by the ex- plosion depth and by the explosions medium. Several formulae of secondary or tertiary reliability are obtained for the seismometric estimation of the yields of US and USSR explosions when only some of the current single station or average network magnitudes are available, including provisional formulae for tha Hagfors Observatory. Accuracy and precision are estimated. Applications are made to some of the US and USSR explosions, for which the official yields have not been published. l.b Sammanfattning En linear och stokastisk modell för sambandet mellan seismiska magnituder från djup- och ytvågor och explosionsstyrkan hos underjordiska kärnladdnings- explosioner tillämpas på att enligt maximimetoden uppskatta explosionsstyrkor ur i stationsnät mätta magnituder. Standardavvikelser och konfidens- intervall beräknas. Tillämpning på den kalibrerade situationen med explosioner mellan 70 och 1200 kiloton i Fahute Mesa på Nevada-provplatsen och magnituder från stationer i Kanada visar att precisionen, mätt i enheter för logaritmen av explosions- styrkan, varierar från 0.3 för en genomsnittlig mätstation för djupvågor till 0.03 för 19 djupvågsstationer och 19 ytvågsstationer tillsammans. Denna precision är väl jämförbar med den hos radiokemiska styrkebestämningar. Uppskattningar med hjälp av en genomsnittlig ytvågs-station är lika precisa som med fyra genom- snittliga djupvågsstationer tillsammans. Vid tillämpning på några explosioner i USA men utanför Pahute Mesa och med kända styrkor, erhölls e;i noggrannhet av ungefär * 0.2 i logstyrkan. Modellen passar dock inte för explosioner under Amchitka-ön i Aleuterna. Kvoten mellan de ur yt- och djupvågor uppskattade styrkorna användes som ett av styrkan oberoende mått på avvikelser från referens-förhållandena i Pahute Mesa. De ur ytvågorna uppskattade styrkorna hos explosioner under Yucca Flat på Nevada-provplatsen är i genomsnitt endast hälften av de ur djupvågorna upp- skattade styrkorna. Möjligheten av sådana snedställningar reducerar de för andra kallområden än Pahute Mesa uppskattade styrkorna till relativa eller ekvivalenta styrkor. Sådana ekvivalenta styrkor påverkas av mediet för och djupet hos explosionen. Flera formler med sekundär eller tertiär pålitlighet härleds för seismometrisk uppskattning av den ekvivalenta styrkan hos explosioner i USA och Sovietunionen för de iall där endast någon eller några av de vanligare magnituderna från nät- verk eller enskilda stationer är tillgängliga. Däribland anges provisoriska formler för Hagfors-observatoriet. Uppskattningar av formlernas precision och noggrannhet anges. Formlerna tillämpas på ett antal av de explosioner i USA och Sovietunionen, för vilka officiella styrkor inte har publicerats. Page 2 Page 0. Summary 1 1. Introduction 4 1.01 The basic model 4 1.02 The, present applications 4 1.G3 Remarks on surface wave magnitudes 6 1.04 Notations 6 2. Primary seismometric estimates of the yields of some U S under- ground nuclear explosions with published official yields 8 2.01 The tables 8 2.02 The predicted standard deviation due to coupling variability and channel noise 9 2. "*3 Confidence ranges ior K and C 10 2.04 The calibration explosions Chartreuse, HaIfbeak, Greely, Scotch, Knickerbocker and Boxcar in the Pahute Mesa 12 2.05 The explosion Benham in the Pahute Mesa 13 2.06 The explosions Rex and Dureya in the Pahute Mesa 13 2.07 The extension of the model to include source area bias 14 2.08 The explosions Discus Thrower and Pile Driver 15 2.09 The explosion Gasbuggy in New Mexico 16 2.10 The explosion Rulison in Colorado 16 2.11 The explosions Long Shot and Milrow under Amchitka Island in Alaska 17 2.12 Precision and accuracy of the model 19 3. Primary seismometric estimates of the yields of some U S under- ground nuclear explosions with unpublished official yields 20 3.01 The tables 20 3.02 Nuclear explosions under the Yucca Flat in the Nevada Test Site 20 3.03 The explosions Pin Stripe and Diluted Waters near French- man Flat in the Nevada Test Site 21 3.04 The explosion Faultless in central Nevada 21 3.05 Remarks on the bias C 22 3.06 Station corrections 23 Page 3 4. Secondary seismometric estimates of the yields of underground nuclear explosions in the U S 29 4.01 Estimates by mean Canadian magnitudes 29 4.02 Estimates by LRSM and CGS body wave magnitudes 31 4.03 Estimates by n^,FS body wave magnitudes 33 4.04 Estimates by HL, and n*™, 34 4.05 Estimates by mCT1T 34 4.06 Estimates by m, «. 35 5. Tertiary seismometric estimates of the yields of underground nuclear explosions in the USSR 37 5.01 Use of the experience with explosions in the Pahute Mesa 37 5.02 The data and their reduction 37 5.03 Accuracy and precision 38 5.04 The estimated yields 39 6. Discussion and conclusions 40 6.01 The material 40 6.02 The maximum likelihood seismometric estimates of the yields of explosions in the Pahute Mesa at the Nevada Test Site 40 6.03 The maximum likelihood seismometric estimates of the seismometric yields for U S explosions outside the Pahute Mesa 42 6.04 Secondary seismometric estimates of the yields of ex-* plosions in the U S 45 6.05 Tertiary seismometric estimates of the yields of ex- plosions in the USSR 46 6.06 Conclusions about event identification by the internal bias between equivalent logyields. 47 7. Acknowledgements 47 8. References 48 Tables 1-15 50-79 Figures 1-5 80-84 Page 4 1) Introduction 1.01 The Basic model In an earlier paper (Ericsson 1971), here referred to as paper II, the author applied a simple linear and stochastic model to the connection between seismometric surface and body wave magnitudes M.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mercury Bowling Alley Demolition
    MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION NEVADA FIELD OFFICE, AND THE NEVADA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REGARDING THE DEMOLITION OF THE MERCURY BOWLING ALLEY, NEVADA NATIONAL SECURITY SITE, NEVADA WHEREAS, the National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO) intends to demolish the Mercury Bowling Alley (Building 23-517) on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada, as part of its plans for new construction and modernization of Mercury to support the NNSS's changing role in national security; and WHEREAS, the present undertaking consists of the demolition of Building 23-517 (SHPO Resource Number B 14451) that has remained vacant since the mid-i 990s following the end of nuclear testing activities at the NNSS (formerly Nevada Test Site [NTS]). In planning for the undertaking, NNSA/NFO considered all possible alternatives to avoid and minimize adverse effects to historic properties; and WHEREAS, theNNSA/NFO has defined the undertaking's area of potential effect (APE) as a 4.5-acre area in Mercury bounded on the west by the Mercury Highway, on the east by Teapot Street, on the south by Trinity Avenue, and on the north by a prominent terrace immediately south of a parking lot, park, and tennis/basketbatl court (Attachment A); and WHEREAS, the NNSA/NFO recorded and evaluated Building 23-517 (Attachment A) En accordance with the Nevada ArchUectvral Survey and Inventory Guidelines, and has determined that Building 23-517 is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the Secretary's Significance Criteria A and C at the locai level of historic significance related to the era of nuclear testing; and WHEREAS, the NNSA/NFO has determined that the undertaking will constitute an adverse effect to the historic property Building 23-517, and has consulted with the Nevada Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) pursuant to 36 C.F.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Nevada National Security Site Underground Test Area (UGTA) Flow and Transport Modeling – Approach and Example
    Nevada National Security Site Underground Test Area (UGTA) Flow and Transport Modeling – Approach and Example Bill Wilborn UGTA Activity Lead U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office Bob Andrews Navarro-INTERA December 12, 2014 Outline • Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) • Environmental Management (EM) mission at NNSS • Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (FFACO) • UGTA strategy and approach • NNSS inventory • Example of UGTA strategy implementation at Yucca Flat • Summary ID 876 – December 2014 – Page 2 PageLog 2Title No. 2014-231Page 2 EM Mission at NNSS • Characterization and remediation activities at radioactive and non-radioactive contaminated sites – Activities focus on groundwater, soil, and onsite infrastructure contamination from historic nuclear testing • Low-level radioactive and hazardous waste management and disposal – National disposal facility for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Complex (Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site) • Environmental planning, compliance, and monitoring ID 876 – December 2014 – Page 3 PageLog 3Title No. 2014-231Page 3 FFACO • FFACO provides approach for DOE to develop and implement corrective actions under the regulatory authority and oversight of State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) • Agreement for governing the process to identify, characterize, and implement corrective actions at historical sites used in the development, testing, and production of nuclear weapons • Tri-party agreement – NDEP, DOE, and U.S. Department of Defense ID 876 – December 2014 – Page 4 PageLog 4Title No. 2014-231Page 4 FFACO UGTA Strategy Assumptions 1. Groundwater technologies for removal or stabilization of subsurface radiological contamination are not cost-effective 2. Closure in place with monitoring and institutional controls is the only likely corrective action 3.
    [Show full text]
  • "Report of the Investigation of the Accident at the Midas Myth/Milagro
    I o07'A AiVO- ?;5 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE; MIDAS MYTH/MILAGRO TRAILER PARK ON RAINIER MESA AT NEVADA TEST SITE ON FEB. 15, 1984 DATE OF INVESTIGATION REPORT APRIL 9, 1984 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION ...... .... 1I............................... It. SUMMARY .....g .s..; 2 I.I. DISCUSSION OF THE FACTS 6 A. General Background 6 1. DOE Conduct of Nuclear Tests .......................... 6 2. 000 Nuclear Weapons Effects Tests Planning and Execution .............. .is 3. Geology of Rainier Mesa 20 4. Background of Phenomenological Experience ............. 22 B. The Accident ................ * . 25 C. Postaccident Activity ................ 51 D. Safety .. 606..................................... IV. ANALYSIS ... ..... .! 61 A. Geotechnical Aspects of the Accident ........ .. o.... 61 gB The Accident . o.......g....g79 C. Post-Accident Activity 82 V. CONCLUSIONS 84 A. Probable Causes o4....... ee. gg0e00 .g.... ge. 84 S. Findings ...... ..............g0gegeeege. 84 C. Judgment of Needs .......... g88 VI. SIGNATURES ... e..e..........e90 A. Representatives and Advisors 91 VII. BOARD AUTHORITY ...... 92 VIII. INDEX OF EXHIBITS 94 GLOSSARY i INDEX OF FIGURES Figure 4o. Title Page 1 Nevada Test Site Location Map 4 2 Detail of Nevada Test Site 5 3 Nuclear Test Organization 4 Cross-Section Through MIDAS MYTh Working Point 21 5 CEP Data Sheet 26 6 NTS Wide Permanent Geophone Array 29 7 MIDAS MYTH/MILAGRO Reentry Routes 30 8 Rainier Mesa Road Blockage Above
    [Show full text]
  • The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions
    The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions October 1989 NTIS order #PB90-156183 Recommended Citation: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions, OTA-ISC-414 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, October 1989), Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 89-600707 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (order form can be found in the back of this report) Foreword Within weeks after the ending of World War II, plans for the first nuclear test series “Operation Crossroads” were underway. The purpose then, as now, was to develop new weapon systems and to study the effects of nuclear explosions on military equipment. The development of the nuclear testing program has been paralleled by public opposition from both an arms control and an environmental perspective. Much of the criticism is due to the symbolic nature of testing nuclear weapons and from the radiation hazards associated with the early practice of testing in the atmosphere. Recently, however, specific concerns have also been raised about the current underground testing program; namely: . Are testing practices safe? . Could an accidental release of radioactive material escape undetected? ● Is the public being fully informed of all the dangers emanating from the nuclear testing program? These concerns are fueled in part by the secrecy that surrounds the testing program and by publicized problems at nuclear weapons production facilities. At the request of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and Senator Orrin G. Hatch, OTA undertook an assessment of the containment and monitoring practices of the nuclear testing program.
    [Show full text]
  • Locally Intruded by Late Mesozoic (@93 M.Y.BP) Plutonic Rocks Related Ti the Sierra Nevada Batholith
    —-...--...——.—— LA-10428-MS ! CIC-14REPORT COLLECTION C3* Reproduction COPY :,;-.+Z;LJJ I .—.— .n.Tm—. Los Alamos Nationel Laboratory IS operated by the Unlverslty 01 California for the Uruted States Department of Energy undercontiact W-7405 .ENG-36. ,- ~.. ., . ,.. -. ,. .. .— - “- , . .,, i. ,, . .. ,.- . ... ,<.- . ...-;; . .: : . .. ,.:-” ,,,.,, , -; ,. ,. ., , .,-,. .N, u , ,,“~ : “,,; ,’...... .,, .!. ,,,.. , ., . .., .. ... # ,,.. .. ,,. .. ,. .- . “. ,, ‘..,.,.Nevada Test Site Field Trip (iuidebook .-, ,. ,. ,., , ..,,..,,“ :. .,,4,,d. .,}.., , .. “:.,-. ! ————. 1984 .--.—.. -:----s ● H.-: - -r., -. .,% .~hd.? I ..-.— —. .. — . .— —.— —...——— LosAlamosNationalLaboratory LosAllallT10sLosAlamos,NewMexico87545 k AffiitiveActlosa/Equdt)p@UOity fh@oyS?S This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Waste Management Program/Nevada Operations Ofiiee and Los Alamos Weapons Development Pro- gram/Test Operations. Edited by Glenda Ponder, ESSDivision DISCLAIMER Thisreport waspreparedas an accountof work sponsoredby an agencyof the LhdtedStatesCoverrrment. Neitherthe UnitedStates Governmentnor any agencythereof, nor any of their employees,makesany warranty,expressor irnpIied,or assumesany Iegatliabilityor responsibilityfor the accuracy,wmpletenesa, or usefutncasof any information,apparatus,product, or processdisclosed,or representsthat i!ausewould not infringeprivatelyownedrights. Reference hereinto any specificcommercialproduct, process,or serviceby trade name,trademark,manufacturer,or otherwise,doesnot newaaarilywnatitute or Irssplyits
    [Show full text]
  • Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Tour Booklet
    Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Tour Booklet Nevada Site Specific Advisory Board October 24, 2018 Prohibited Articles On NNSS Public Tours The following items are prohibited within the boundaries of the NNSS public tours. Tour escorts are required to do random checks. • Cellular Phones • Recording Devices • Bluetooth Enabled Devices • Pets and Animals • PDA, BlackBerry, etc. • Explosives • Computers • Ammunition • Portable Data Storage Devices • Incendiary Devices • Global Positioning System (GPS) • Chemical Irritants • Cameras/Camcorders • Alcoholic Beverages • Binoculars • Controlled Substances • Optical Instruments • Any Item Prohibited by Law • Geiger Counters Possession of these items may delay the tour and prevent your participation. If at any point during the tour these items are discovered, the tour may be terminated. ID 2018- 10/24/2018 – Page 2 2018Page- 0322Title-EMRPPage 2 NNSS Tour Agenda* 7:45 a.m. Depart for NNSS 12:40 p.m. Depart for Sedan Crater 8:35 a.m. Arrive at Mercury Badge Office 12:55 p.m. Arrive at Sedan Crater (photo opp) 1:25 p.m. Depart for T-1/Apple 2 Houses 8:55 a.m. Depart for USGS Core Library 1:45 p.m. Arrive at T-1/Apple 2 for Drive-by Briefing 9:00 a.m. Arrive at USGS Core Library for Groundwater Briefing ~ Work Plan Items 1 & 2 2:00 p.m. Depart for Area 3 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS) 9:30 a.m. Depart for Frenchman Flat 2:05 p.m. Arrive Area 3 RWMS for Drive-Through Briefing 9:45 a.m. Arrive at Frenchman Flat for Drive-Through 2:25 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Nevada National Security Site Environmental Report 2016 ATT-A-I Attachment A: Site Description
    DOE/NV/25946--3334-ATT A Environmental Report 2016 Attachment A: Site Description September 2017 National Nuclear Security Administration LLC National Security Technologies Vision • Service • Partnership A Message from the Manager The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO) strives to achieve our missions in a safe, secure, sustainable, and environmentally responsible manner. Our staff, our contractor and laboratory partners, as well as other users of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) succeed through demonstrated teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement. The NNSA/NFO presents this environmental report to summarize actions taken in 2016 to protect the environment and the public while achieving our mission goals. It is prepared for the public and our stakeholders in hopes that it is readily understandable and usable. It is a key component in our efforts to keep the public informed of environmental conditions at the NNSS and its support facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada. The NNSA/NFO ensures the validity and accuracy of the data contained in this report. We invite you to help us improve the usefulness and readability of this Environmental Report by providing your comments and concerns to Peter A. Sanders, ([email protected]). Steven J. Lawrence Nevada Field Office Manager DOE/NV/25946--3334-ATT A Environmental Report 2016 Attachment A: Site Description This report was prepared for: U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office By: National Security Technologies, LLC Las Vegas, Nevada September 2017 Compiled by Cathy Wills, Editor Graphic Designer: Katina Loo Geographic Information System Specialist: Ashley Burns Work performed under contract number: DE-AC52-06NA25946 Attachment A: Site Description Table of Contents List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Faults, Lineaments, and Earthquake Epicenters Digital Map of the Pahute Mesa 30' X 60' Quadrangle, Nevada by Scott A
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Faults, Lineaments, And Earthquake Epicenters Digital Map Of The Pahute Mesa 30' X 60' Quadrangle, Nevada By Scott A. Minor1, Greg S. Vick2, Michael D. Carr3, and Ronald R. Wahl1 Open-File Report 96-262 This map is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 1 Denver, Colo ^Menlo Park, Calif, (now at Womack and Assocs., Billings, Mont.) ^Restcn, Va. 1996 Faults, Lineaments, And Earthquake Epicenters Digital Map Of The Pahute Mesa 30' X 60' Quadrangle, Nevada By Scott A. Minor, Greg S. Vick, Michael D. Carr, and Ronald R. Wahl INTRODUCTION This map database, identified as Faults, lineaments, and earthquake epicenters digital map of the Pahute Mesa 30' X 60' quadrangle, Nevada, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. This digital map compilation incorporates fault, air photo lineament, and earthquake epicenter data from within the Pahute Mesa 30' by 60' quadrangle, southern Nye County, Nevada (fig. 1). The compilation contributes to the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Testing the Physical Proof of Design Principles
    Field Testing The Physical Proof of Design Principles by Bob Campbell, Ben Diven, John McDonald, Bill Ogle, and Tom Scolman edited by John McDonald or the past four decades, Los interplay of field testing and laboratory de- disguisedly an instrument of destruction, Alamos has performed full-scale sign is orchestrated to optimize device per- without hurting anyone? nuclear tests as part of the Labo- formance, to guarantee reliability, to analyze From the beginning, field testing of nu- F ratory’s nuclear weapons pro- design refinements and innovations, and to clear weapons has followed commonsense gram. The Trinity Test, the world’s first study new phenomena that can affect future guidelines that accord prudent and balanced man-made nuclear explosion, occurred July weapons. concern for operational and public safety, 16, 1945, on a 100-foot tower at the White The advent of versatile, high-capacity obtaining the maximum amount of Sands Bombing Range, New Mexico. The computers makes it possible to model the diagnostic information from the high-energy- actual shot location was about 55 miles behavior of nuclear weapons to a high degree density region near the point of explosion, northwest of Alamogordo, at the north end of similitude. However, subtle and im- and meeting the exacting demands of engi- of the desert known as Jornada del Muerto perfectly understood changes in design neering and logistics in distant (and some- which extends between the Rio Grande and parameters, such as small variations in mass, times hostile) environments. The extreme the San Andres Mountains. shape, or materials, have produced unex- boundaries of the arena of nuclear testing The actual detonation of a nuclear device pected results that were discovered only encompass tropical Pacific atolls and harsh is necessary to experimentally verify the through full-scale nuclear tests.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Trip to Nevada Test Site
    :~~~~~~~ **e~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rr-;|.m@ call~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~W~. , F:I':,W-XL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-_S : s~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~7 i * FIELD TRIP TO NEVADA TEST SITE This field guide has been prepared for use during the trip from Las Vegas to the Nevada Test Site and the tour of the NTS. A brief discussion of major geologic structures between Las Vegas and Mercury is followed by a general discussion of the geology and hydrology of NTS. The remainder of the field guide covers geologic and hydrologic features of interest at the NTS. Most of the brief writeups are synthesized from selected published t 'Ip reports, administrative reports and from other unpublished data. 1 I' I, pJJ A C 'V. :e - Las Vegas to Mercury The Las Vegas Valley shear zone is expressed topographically by * -- the trough which extends parallel to U.S. Highway 95 from Las Vegas to Mercury, Nevada, a distance of about 55 miles. The amount and a direction of movement along this shear zone is estimated from S.-. * structural and stratigraphic evidence to be on the order of 15 to 40 miles; the movement is right lateral. The evidence for the movement is based upon the sharp bending of fold axes, traces of thrust faults, topographic trends, and facies boundaries in the vicinity of the shear zone. Most of the displacement on the Las Vegas shear zone may be taken up by structural bending in the Specter Range area at the north end of the shear zone. The move- ment may have taken place as early as the Jurassic and have been completed by early or middle Miocene time.
    [Show full text]
  • Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing
    Battlefi eld of the Cold War The Nevada Test Site Volume I Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing 1951 - 1963 United States Department of Energy Of related interest: Origins of the Nevada Test Site by Terrence R. Fehner and F. G. Gosling The Manhattan Project: Making the Atomic Bomb * by F. G. Gosling The United States Department of Energy: A Summary History, 1977 – 1994 * by Terrence R. Fehner and Jack M. Holl * Copies available from the U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20585 Attention: Offi ce of History and Heritage Resources Telephone: 301-903-5431 DOE/MA-0003 Terrence R. Fehner & F. G. Gosling Offi ce of History and Heritage Resources Executive Secretariat Offi ce of Management Department of Energy September 2006 Battlefi eld of the Cold War The Nevada Test Site Volume I Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing 1951-1963 Volume II Underground Nuclear Weapons Testing 1957-1992 (projected) These volumes are a joint project of the Offi ce of History and Heritage Resources and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Acknowledgements Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Testing, Volume I of Battlefi eld of the Cold War: The Nevada Test Site, was written in conjunction with the opening of the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The museum with its state-of-the-art facility is the culmination of a unique cooperative effort among cross-governmental, community, and private sector partners. The initial impetus was provided by the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, a group primarily consisting of former U.S. Department of Energy and Nevada Test Site federal and contractor employees.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater Flow Conceptualization of the Pahute Mesa–Oasis Valley
    Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, Office of Environmental Management under Interagency Agreement, DE-EM0004969 Groundwater Flow Conceptualization of the Pahute Mesa– Oasis Valley Groundwater Basin, Nevada: A Synthesis of Geologic, Hydrologic, Hydraulic-Property, and Tritium Data Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5134 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Photograph of Colson Pond in northern Oasis Valley, looking south toward Beatty, Nevada. Photograph by Steven R. Reiner, U.S. Geological Survey, 2020. Groundwater Flow Conceptualization of the Pahute Mesa–Oasis Valley Groundwater Basin, Nevada: A Synthesis of Geologic, Hydrologic, Hydraulic-Property, and Tritium Data By Tracie R. Jackson, Joseph M. Fenelon, and Randall L. Paylor Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, Office of Environmental Management under Interagency Agreement, DE-EM0004969 Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5134 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2021 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov/. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text.
    [Show full text]