Geologic surface effects of underground nuclear testing: Buckboard Mesa, Climax Stock, Dome Mountain, Frenchman Flat, Rainier/Aqueduct Mesa, and Shoshone Mountain: Nevada Test Site, Nevada

Grasso, Dennis

doi:10.3133/ofr03125

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…No such grading occurred at the SGZ area of DISKO ELM, so the vegetation growth at this site is not likely to be impacted by these activities. While we designed the sampling strategy such that the control site at BARNWELL was located outside the region of surface fracturing from the BARNWELL test (e.g., Grasso, 2003), we cannot exclude the possibility of other sources of surface disturbances to the SGZ site, control site, or both. However, the similarities in vegetation species richness index (Figure S3) or diversity (Figure S4) at the control site relative to SGZ indicate that difference in disturbance between the two sites was likely minimal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Samples and data were collected from two distinct groups at the site: (1) a group within 200 m of surface ground zero (SGZ) of the explosion site, and (2) a control group centered 1,260 m southwest of SGZ (Figure 1). The control site was outside the zone of fractures detected by the surface effects mapping performed in the days following the test (Grasso, 2003) and was selected because it met specific similarity criteria to the SGZ site (e.g., elevation, geologic units, vegetation, slope, and aspect).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Underground activities, like explosions, have the potential to impact plants in ways that are observable from the surface. Prior studies have explored the preservation of signatures resulting from underground explosion disturbances in other landscape features, such as topography and geomorphology (e.g., Grasso, 2003; Schultz‐Fellenz et al., 2018; Vincent et al., 2003; Wang et al., 2018; Wei, 2017; Yocky et al., 2018; Zelinski et al., 2014). Yet, much less attention has been given to how these landscape changes, or other shallow subsurface changes related to explosions may affect the vegetation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating Vegetation Responses to Underground Nuclear Explosions Through Integrated Analyses

et al. 2021

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Plants occupy a unique space in the natural landscape via their connection to the subsurface through their roots, while still being observable above-ground (Maxwell & Condon, 2016). Their health may change to varying degrees as a result of a number of environmental and anthropogenic stressors (e.g., Mooney et al., 1991). Underground activities, like explosions, have the potential to impact plants in ways that are observable from the surface. Prior studies have explored the preservation of signatures resulting from underground explosion disturbances in other landscape features, such as topography and geomorphology (e.g.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating Vegetation Responses to Underground Nuclear Explosions Through Integrated Analyses

et al. 2021

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“…Residual coseismic surface effects associated with deeply buried, contained underground nuclear detonations have been well‐documented [ Allen et al , 1997; Grasso , 2003]. Surface cracks are formed by the irreversible process called “spalling” where the underground detonation momentarily accelerates the shallow subsurface upward as the shockwave reaches the free surface before gravity slams it back down to a different, damaged configuration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anomalous transient uplift observed at the Lop Nor, China nuclear test site using satellite radar interferometry time-series analysis

Vincent

Buckley²,

Yang

et al. 2011

Geophys. Res. Lett.

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Anomalous uplift is observed at the Lop Nor, China nuclear test site using ERS satellite SAR data. Using an InSAR time‐series analysis method, we show that an increase in absolute uplift with time is observed between 1997 and 1999. The signal is collocated with past underground nuclear tests. Due to the collocation in space with past underground tests we postulate a nuclear test‐related hydrothermal source for the uplift signal. A possible mechanism is presented that can account for the observed transient uplift and is consistent with documented thermal regimes associated with underground nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) (formerly the Nevada Test Site).

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Dense Seismic Array Study of a Legacy Underground Nuclear Test at the Nevada National Security Site

Onyango

Abbott

Worthington

et al. 2020

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America

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The complex postdetonation geologic structures that form after an underground nuclear explosion are hard to constrain because increased heterogeneity around the damage zone affects seismic waves that propagate through the explosion site. Generally, a vertical rubble-filled structure known as a chimney is formed after an underground nuclear explosion that is composed of debris that falls into the subsurface cavity generated by the explosion. Compared with chimneys that collapse fully, leaving a surface crater, partially collapsed chimneys can have remnant subsurface cavities left in place above collapsed rubble. The 1964 nuclear test HADDOCK, conducted at the Nevada test site (now the Nevada National Security Site), formed a partially collapsed chimney with no surface crater. Understanding the subsurface structure of these features has significant national security applications, such as aiding the study of suspected underground nuclear explosions under a treaty verification. In this study, we investigated the subsurface architecture of the HADDOCK legacy nuclear test using hybrid 2D–3D active source seismic reflection and refraction data. The seismic data were acquired using 275 survey shots from the Seismic Hammer (a 13,000 kg weight drop) and 65 survey shots from a smaller accelerated weight drop, both recorded by ∼1000 three-component 5 Hz geophones. First-arrival, P-wave tomographic modeling shows a low-velocity anomaly at ∼200 m depth, likely an air-filled cavity caused by partial collapse of the rock column into the temporary postdetonation cavity. A high-velocity anomaly between 20 and 60 m depth represents spall-related compaction of the shallow alluvium. Hints of low velocities are also present near the burial depth (∼364 m). The reflection seismic data show a prominent subhorizontal reflector at ∼300 m depth, a short-curved reflector at ∼200 m, and a high-amplitude reflector at ∼50 m depth. Comparisons of the reflection sections to synthetic data and borehole stratigraphy suggest that these features correspond to the alluvium–tuff contact, the partial collapse cavity, and the spalled layer, respectively.

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Geologic surface effects of underground nuclear testing: Buckboard Mesa, Climax Stock, Dome Mountain, Frenchman Flat, Rainier/Aqueduct Mesa, and Shoshone Mountain: Nevada Test Site, Nevada

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Investigating Vegetation Responses to Underground Nuclear Explosions Through Integrated Analyses

Investigating Vegetation Responses to Underground Nuclear Explosions Through Integrated Analyses

Anomalous transient uplift observed at the Lop Nor, China nuclear test site using satellite radar interferometry time-series analysis

Dense Seismic Array Study of a Legacy Underground Nuclear Test at the Nevada National Security Site

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