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Ionising Radiation > ... > Nuclear weapon test announced by North Korea
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Relevant information about the underground nuclear weapon test announced by North Korea
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On 25 May 2009 at 2:53 a.m. Central European Summer Time, seismic measuring devices of the international network for the surveillance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) registered tremors in North Korea. Right after this, North Korea announced that it had conducted an underground nuclear weapon test. First analyses of the seismic measurements apparently confirm that this was a nuclear test. The estimated explosive power was between six and ten kilotons and was thus about ten times more powerful than it had been in the last underground test conducted by North Korea in October 2006. This explosion occurred in the same area as in the previously conducted test.
However, it can only be proved by measurements of radioactivity in the local air whether a nuclear weapon was detonated and radioactivity was released. The CTBTO operates a world-wide network with altogether 80 trace measuring stations for radioactivity in the air for the surveillance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Several of such measuring stations are situated in the region. As the operator of one out of four measuring stations in Europe on the Schauinsland mountain near Freiburg, the BfS - on account of its internationally acknowledged expertise gained over decades - has been involved in this network and has volunteered to take part in the measurements and the data interpretation of the samples taken in situ.
The samples are analysed for the isotopes of the radioactive noble gas xenon, since it is only noble gases that can be released into the air in case of an underground bomb test. Based on the weather conditions prevailing in situ, the CTBTO conducts calculations on how the noble gas is dispersing. Due to current weather conditions, possibly released radionuclides will disperse in south to south-east direction and will probably be detected by the measuring points in South Korea and Japan. First relevant measurement results are expected for Wednesday or Thursday. On account of the great distance, it is not probable that radioisotopes can also be registered on the Schauinsland mountain near Freiburg. There is no risk for man or the environment in Germany.
You will find detailed information on the measuring network here.
Further information:
www.ctbto.org
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