Project Title

Operation and maintenance of a CTBT radionuclide monitoring station at Palmer Station

Summary

Event Number:
T-998-P
NSF / DTRA Agreement

Program Director:
Ms. Jessie Crain

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Jamee Johnson

Principal Investigator(s)

Mr. David G Williams
david.g.williams36.civ@mail.mil

Project Web Site:
https://www.ctbto.org/

Location

Supporting Stations: Palmer Station
Research Locations: Terra Lab

Description

This project services and calibrates the automated radionuclide air-particulate (RN73 RASA) monitoring system in the International Monitoring Station (IMS) building (i.e., Terra Lab) at Palmer Station. The IMS continuously collects and automatically analyzes daily air samples for radiation. The collected filter-media samples from the RASA are sent to Vienna, Austria quarterly for archiving. Filter samples are shipped, upon request, to various laboratories elsewhere in the world.

Field Season Overview

The project operates, maintains and sustains the RN73 RASA monitoring instrument. The RASA continuously collects and analyzes daily air samples for radiation. General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) ships consumables for standard operation on an annual basis to RN73. The USAP provides year-round, on-site support by the ASC research associate (RA) to help operate and maintain the RASA. In addition, General Dynamics engineer(s) deploy each season for maintenance of the RASA, network switches, the uninterruptable power supply (UPS), computers, and other station-related hardware. Training for the RA is conducted by GDMS and includes a site visit to the GDMS offices in Chantilly, Virginia for two days prior to initial deployment. One participant will deploy in 2023, and they may be tasked with replacing the filter transport system in the instrument.

Deploying Team Members