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COUNTERS, TIDES, AND WINDS. Two radiologi- 

 cal monitors of the Task Force work their way into 

 a contaminated portion of the Lagoon using a Gei- 

 ger counter to take readings of radioactivity in the 

 water. Readings fluctuated considerably from day 

 to day, depending on tidal effects*, drifts in wind, 

 and currents ascending from the bottom of the 

 Lagoon floor. Nature gave some assistance to les- 

 sening the radioactivity of Lagoon water; thanks 

 to currents produced by tides and winds the water 

 in the Lagoon is constantly being interchanged with 

 water from the open sea. But this process is slow, 

 approximately 48 days being reguired for the 

 water inside to be completely replaced. The Atoll 

 has only one large channel to the sea, but at high 

 tide sea water can easily wash over the reefs into 

 the Lagoon. 



