| OSTI Document ID | 671858 |
|---|---|
| Local PDF | osti/671858.pdf |
| Title | Surface effects of underground nuclear explosions |
| Creator/Author | Allen, B.M.; Drellack, S.L. Jr.; Townsend, M.J. |
| Publication Date | 1997 Jun 01 |
| DOE Contract No. | AC08-96NV11718 |
| Resource/ Doc Type |
Technical Report |
| Resource Relation | PBD: Jun 1997 |
| Research Organization |
Bechtel Nevada Inc., Las Vegas, NV (United States) |
| Sponsoring Organization |
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States) |
| Subject | 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE ; UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS; NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS; SEISMIC EFFECTS; NEVADA TEST SITE; GEOMORPHOLOGY; CRATERS; GROUND SUBSIDENCE; GEOLOGIC FRACTURES; HYDROLOGY; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS |
| Description/ Abstract |
The effects of nuclear explosions have been observed and studied since the first nuclear test (code named Trinity) on July 16, 1945. Since that first detonation, 1,053 nuclear tests have been conducted by the US, most of which were sited underground at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The effects of underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) on their surroundings have long been the object of much interest and study, especially for containment, engineering, and treaty verification purposes. One aspect of these explosion-induced phenomena is the disruption or alteration of the near-surface environment, also known as surface effects. This report was prepared at the request of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), to bring together, correlate, and preserve information and techniques used in the recognition and documentation of surface effects of UNEs. This report has several main sections, including pertinent background information (Section 2.0), descriptions of the different types of surface effects (Section 3.0), discussion of their application and limitations (Section 4.0), an extensive bibliography and glossary (Section 6.0 and Appendix A), and procedures used to document geologic surface effects at the NTS (Appendix C). Because a majority of US surface-effects experience is from the NTS, an overview of pertinent NTS-specific information also is provided in Appendix B. It is not within the scope of this report to explore new relationships among test parameters, physiographic setting, and the types or degree of manifestation of surface effects, but rather to compile, summarize, and capture surface-effects observations and interpretations, as well as documentation procedures and the rationale behind them. |
| Country of Publication |
United States |
| Language | English |
| Format | 160 p. ; PL: |
| Availability | OSTI as DE97054146 |
| OSTI Identifier | OSTI ID: 671858 ; DE97054146 |
| System Entry Date | 2001 May 06 |