Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-13
Weothernion Checks
Rodiooctivity Dolly
Studies Show Ruinfull
Speeds Debris to Earth
By Thomas R. Henry

The Weather Bureau makes a daily
count of the amount Of radioactivity
in the atmosphere at approximately 80
stations scattered over the United
States.
At each of these stations a sheet Of
gummed paper one foot square Is ex-
posed on stand about two feet from
the ground. This paper collects radio
active particles blown by the wind,
falling naturally from the sky, and
carried downward by rain.
In this way is kept daily record
Of the ups and downs of radioactivity,
whether due to explosions of atomic
bombs in Nevada or to any other causes.
There Is always background RADIO
activity in the atmosphere which re-
mains fairly constant. It is due to
transformation of elements in the high
atmosphere and to radioactive atoms in
the dust blown up from the earth. This
Is subject to some variation, but any
sharp increase indicates some artificial
cause, ..E.
Some day radioactivity weather may
be as important as wind weather or
rain weather, and it may even be neces-
sary to devise methods for predicting
IT. AT least background is being &C
cumulated for this sort of thing, AS
YET, however. the observations have
shown nothing that could be detri-
mental to human health. This was to
pe expected because of the extreme pre-
cautions taken by the Atomic Energy
commission at all test shots.
The situation is quite different how.
ever. for few industries which depend
on extremely fine electronic measuring
oevlces or whose products, such as pho
Cograpnlc MIN, could be ruined by too
mucn radloactivity in the atmosphere.
one OF the findings to date is that
the most important way in which
radioactive debris is brought to the
ground is by rain which washes out"
the atmosphere. There is at least a
ten-fold increase in activity with rain
over no rain. This has led to a mis-
conception, Weather Bureau experts
point out, as to the unequal distribution
OF debris from the Nevada tests over
the country.
Inc Photographic industry in North
ern New York State, for example, has
suffered some losses. It sometimes has
seemed that this particular section was
a favored target for wind-carried
debris. Actually. it is explained, this is
Que to the frequency of rain over the
st. Lawrence Valley. Any radioactive
dust passing overhead is likely to be
washed down.
The meteorologistS have not vet been
able to provide an adequate explanation
Tor this. The particles, it is found. are
almost always inside raindrops. That
is, they are not simply dragged down
by the falling drops. This leads to the
speculation that they may act as con.
denSatlon nuclei whose presence in air
is necessary for the formation of RAIN
drops. They are of about the right
size. On the other hand, they never
nave been demonstrated to have any
particular ability to attract water.
Several obscure phenomena remain
to be cleared up by observation and
research. One is the tendency for ex-
cess radioactivity to linger at certain
places after the major clouds sup
posedly carrying the particles have
been blown out to sea- The mechan-
ism. it is explained, may be that Of
deposition of exceptional amounts by
rain followed by gusty winds which
blow the particles into the air again.
The daily observations show that
radioactivity decreases rapidly with dis
lance from the bomb site.