The nuclear reactor from the Soviet radar reconnaissance satellite, Cosmos-1402, reentered the earth's atmosphere on 7 February 1983 and disintegrated over the South Atlantic Ocean. The reactor was powered by approximately 50 kilograms of uranium-235 ((235)U). In an effort to determine the fate of the reactor core, a series of aerosol samples were collected at altitudes between 27 and 36 kilometers in the Northern Hemisphere approximately 1.1 years later by high-altitude balloons. At an altitude of 36 kilometers a 53 +/- 20 percent excess in the (235)U concentration was measured. The total excess of (235)U in the stratosphere was calculated to be 44 +/- 15 kilograms.
During April 1982, based on filter and impactor samples, we intercepted the plume from the eruption of El Chichon. Our measurements of the trace gases in the plume show no enhancement of carbonyl sulfide (COS) over background. It is apparent from the data that strong vertical mixing occurred during this period. Some of the lowest concentrations of COS to date were measured in the lower polar stratosphere during this mission.
Se colectaron aerosoles y gases estratosféricos mediante aviones de elevada altitud y balones para determinar el efecto de El Chichón sobre la estratosfera. El Chichón inyectó compuestos sulfurosos que resultaron en la producción de alrededor de 7.6 ± 2.3 gT de sulfatos en la estratosfera global. El hecho de que el muestreo por balón se hizo a una latitud única arroja considerable incertidumbre. No se encontraron cantidades importantes de sulfuro de carbonilo en la porción de la pluma estratosf6rica del volcán en las altitudes accesibles al aeroplano. Esta erupción tuvo sobre la estratosfera un impacto mayor que cualquier otra erupción volcánica desde 1971.
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