INVESTIGATION OF ON-SITE INSPECTION TECHNIQUES FOR HIGH-EXPLOSIVE TESTS IN A SALT MINE. Final Report

Abstract

AEC experiments for testing the effectiveness of decoupling provided a further opportunity to investigate techniques which an inspection team might use to locate a clandestine nuclear explosion. The investigation consisted of aerial- photographic interpretation, geologic mapping, and on-site examination, both surface and underground. The effects of a series of l1 shots were documented; characteristics of anomalous activity were determined. and evidence of human activity and other clues were tabulated. Results of the investigation indicate that detecting and locating a clandestine undenground explosion in an environment similar to the Winnfield salt dome would be difficult. The detection problem was highlighted by experiments conducted by LRL which proved that the seismic signal from an underground detonation can be substantially reduced by decoupling methods. Thus it is conceivable that the seismic signal from a clandestine decoupled test- might not be noted in an inspection control system, especially in an area where seismic signals from natural causes are common. However, if a seismic signal from any of the COWBOY test shots had been detected, locating the site of the event would have been possible; the chance of success would have decreased as the evidence of anomalous on-site human activity was eliminated. This research emphasizedmore » the necessity that an inspection team be cognizant of the geologic environment and seismic history of the area under its surveillance and that the team be extra-sensitive to any anomalous activity. (auth)« less