CASTLE BRAVO: Fifty Years of Legend and Lore. A Guide to Off-Site Radiation Exposures

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA572278 | Open PDF

Abstract:

This report is a narrative history and guide to primary historical references concerning the CASTLE BRAVO nuclear test of 1 March 1954. Detonated at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, BRAVO was the largest-yield American nuclear explosion. Also, it was the only American nuclear test to result in prompt harm to civilian populations. Radioactive fallout arrived within hours on several nearby populated islands, necessitating emergency evacuations of Rongerik, Rongelap, and Utirik atolls, and resulting in radiation overexposures to approximately 665 island residents. This report focuses on the circumstances that resulted in radioactive contamination of the inhabited atolls. No attempt is made to address, in any detail, the larger issue of the effects of BRAVO on and around the shot site at Bikini Atoll.

Author(s):
Kunkle, Thomas ; Ristvet, Byron
Author Organization(s):
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER KIRTLAND AFB NM
Descriptive Note:
Special rept.
Supplementary Note:
Prepared in cooperation with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The original document contains color images.
Pagination:
0195

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
DTRIAC-SR-12-001, LA-UR-04-1400
Contract/Grant Number(s):
DTRA-02-03-D-0002
Monitor Series:
DTRA/FB
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_4.7.2_Installation Services; JCA_4.7_Base and Installations Support; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_5.5.2_Task; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_5.3.1_Analyze Problem; JCA_5.4_Decide; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_5.4.3_Establish Rule Sets; JCA_5.6.4_Assess Guidance; JCA_5.6_Monitor; JCA_4_Logistics; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned
Modernization Areas:
Fully Networked C3; Cyber
Communities of Interest:
Biomedical
Descriptor(s):
*MILITARY HISTORY, *NUCLEAR EXPLOSION TESTING, BIKINI ATOLL, CIVILIAN POPULATION, EVACUATION, EXPOSURE(PHYSIOLOGY), FALLOUT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MARSHALL ISLANDS, MEDICAL RESEARCH, NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, PANEL(COMMITTEE), RADIATION, RADIATION HAZARDS, RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION, SAMPLING, SOILS, WATER, WEATHER, WIND
Field(s)/Group(s):
Nuclear Weapons, Radiation Pollution and Control
Keyword(s):
CASTLE BRAVO NUCLEAR DETONATION, ENEWETAK ATOLL, ENIWETOK ATOLL, HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS, JOINT TASK FORCE, LEGENDS, LORE, NUCLEAR TESTS, PACIFIC PROVING GROUND, RADIATION EXPOSURE, RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT, RONGELAP ATOLL, RONGERIK ATOLL, UTIRIK ATOLL, PATE PALMER REPORT, OPERATION IVY, OPERATION CASTLE, PPG(PACIFIC PROVING GROUND)
Report Date:
2013 Jan 31
Creation Date:
2013 Apr 22