Monitoring of temperature regime in area of semipalatinsk nuclear test site

Abstract

The problem of rehabilitation of Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS) has the important scientific and economic significance for Kazakhstan. In 1997 the temperature anomalies in the SNTS have been found out in the process of the space monitoring (1). In this paper the basic results of the SNTS researches in 1998-2002 are shown. INTRODUCTION. One of the largest objects, exposed for a long time to intensive and practically non-controlled technogenic loading on the territory of Kazakhstan, is Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS). During existing of the USSR it were made 118 atmospheric and 348 underground nuclear explosions on it. In August 1991 the SNTS has was closed officially. The information about its activity was in the archives of the various departments and institutes. So this information was closed for the public, and for the most part of scientists and experts. After collapse of the USSR Kazakhstan had to solve the ecological, social and economic problems of the SNTS alone. At first, it is necessary to provide the safety of the local residents, which actively started economic development of the SNTS territory. At second, according to geological data there are the deposits of minerals in a zone of influence of the SNTS. Extraction of minerals is very importance for Kazakhstan. At third, SNTS is very interesting for science as unique natural technogenic system, which was exposed to radiating pollution during long time. The separate parts of the SNTS and adjoining areas are polluted the radioactive waste products till now. It complicates the problem of rehabilitation and economic usage of test site territory. So, it is important to organize system of the regular control and studying of the SNTS, including the using of the remote sensing data. The basic results of underlying surface temperature monitoring.