UNCLASSIFIED 



Security Classification 



DOCUMENT CONTROL DATA -R&D 



(Security classification ot title, body ot abstract and Indexing annotation must be engared when the overall nport la claaattiad) 



>TING ACTIVITY (Corporate author) 



Coastal Engineering Research Center CCERC) 

 Dorps of Engineers , Department of the Army- 

 Washington, D. C. 



Za. REPORT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 



Unclassified 



2b. GROUP 



. REPORT TITLE 



RADIOISOTOPIC SAND TRACER STUDY, POINT CONCEPTION, CALIFORNIA 

 Preliminary report on accomplishments July 1966 to June 1968 



4. DESCRIPTIVE notes (Type ol report and Inclusive dates) 



S. AUTHOR(S) (First name, middle Initial, last name) 



David B. Duane 

 Charles W. Judge 



7b. NO. OF REFS 



36 



6- REPORT DATE 



May 1969 



70. TOTAL NO. OF PAGES 



19U 



W 



TRACT OR GRANT NO. 



19-11 ) - 2988 between Atomic Energy 

 jCommis^sion and Coastal Engineering Researcl 



Center 



b. PROJECT NO. 



M. ORIGINATOR'S REPORT NuWBER(S) 



Miscellaneous Paper 2- 



10. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 



This document has been approved for public release and sale; its distribution 

 is unlimited. 



II. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 



12. SPONSORING MILITARY ACTIVITY 



13. ABSTRACT 



The purpose of the study is to develop and use radioactive tracers for research 

 in sand movement and littoral processes. Objectives include determination of suitable 

 radioactive isotopes, development of radiation detectors, and development of handling 

 and survey programs. Concurrent with these objectives, studies of sediment transport 

 around the Point Conception headland and of the mechanics of littoral transport are 

 being conducted. Methods developed by this program have direct application to engineer- 

 ing design of such works as harbor development and beach erosion prevention, and quasi- 

 military application such as the location of radioactive or other toxic materials. 



Sand grains indigenous to the study area have been labeled with xenon-133 which 

 does not adversely affect the hydraulic properties of the sand. A mobile detector 

 system using cesium iodide crystals and housed in a "ball" towed behind an amphibious 

 vehicle detects quantity and areas of radiation. Computer programs correct and plot 

 radiation data. A field test of equipment and principles at Cape Kennedy, Florida, was 

 successful. Additional field tests were at Surf and Point Conception, California. These 

 tests included isotope distribution, sediment analysis, offshore profiles, and oceanic 

 and atmospheric environment monitoring. In addition, model tests were conducted at 

 CERC to compare high and low specific activity xenon, and to study beach development 

 and movement under the controlled conditions of a hydraulic laboratory. 



Data density is sufficient to support tentative conclusions regarding offshore 

 sediment movement in the Point Conception area. Additional field tests will extend the 

 survey from the beach through the surf zone. Also, development of instruments and 

 field programs will continue in order to permit routine use by technicians and field 

 £r j ews r . 



DD 



rem 



1473 



UNCLASSIFIED 

 Security Classification 



