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Monitoring Gamma Radiation

The Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network, known as NEWNET, is able to give early indications of increases in radiation due to radioactive particulates in the air.

El Rito
El Rito, NM
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10/15/1997 The El Rito station was powered down and disassembled on 14 October 97 in preparation for the relocation to Oke Oweege, San Juan Pueblo, on 15 October 97. The last transmission made by the El Rito station was at 1717Z on 14 October 97. DFK 10/15/97Station InfoData Graph
10/15/1997 On 10/6/97, the gamma began to transmit high again. A care- ful look at the data plots showed a significant correlation between the temperature and the high gamma readings. It was concluded that there was a problem in the electronics on the local display which contains the buffer amplifier for the data from the PIC. A new display main board was installed on 10/6/97 and all system tests were nominal. The station was reprogrammed and restarted at 1828Z on 10/6/97. DFK 10/15/97Station InfoData Graph
10/15/1997 On 10/2/97 the station began to transmit high gamma readings again. Just as before, all the local data was normal. Performed all tests as on 9/22/97 and all checked normal. The DCP was replaced and the unit was reprogrammed and re- started at 2140Z on 10/3/97. DFK 10/15/97Station InfoData Graph
10/15/1997 A Gamma spike of about 30uR/hr was seen on the data on the evening of 9/19/97 that lasted about two hours. Specific cause was undetermined. A call was made to John Ussery, station manager, on 9/22/97 and he verified that there were no shipments nor were there any disposals at the clinic. All parameters on the local display were reflecting normal backgrounds. Checked measurement at the DCP and this was also normal. Loaded the maintenance program and checked actual input signal and all was normal. Reloaded the program and re-started on 9/22/97. We apologize for the late comments. DFK 10/15/97Station InfoData Graph
7/19/1997Dane KnowltonReplaced the End Device Interface Module (E.D.I.M.), the LANL Interface card and the Temperature Probe. Prior to removing the original probe, a resistance measurement was taken between J3-3 and analog ground. The original probe measured 19.12K ohms; the replacement probe measured 18.71K ohms. The station was reprogrammed at 1951Z (1351MDT). DFKStation InfoData Graph
7/19/1997Dane KnowltonReplaced the End Device Interface Module (E.D.I.M.), the LANL Interface card and the Temperature Probe. Prior to removing the original probe, a resistance measurement was taken between J3-3 and analog ground. The original probe measured 19.12K ohms; the replacement probe measured 18.71K ohms. The station was reprogrammed at 1951Z (1351MDT). DFKStation InfoData Graph
6/26/1997 Reprogrammed and restarted last night at about 21:10 MDT (97/177 03:10 Z). The temperature readings are bad.Station InfoData Graph
6/23/1997 Stopped transmitting on 21 June at 11:17 MDT (97/172 17:17 Z). 6/25/97 12:06MDT LS,DK DCP stack was replaced and programmed with version 35 software.Station InfoData Graph
5/1/1997 Station was restarted today at 0906 MDT (97/121 15:06 ZULU)Station InfoData Graph
4/29/1997 The DCP locked up on 28 April. Gamma radiation and BaroP measurements are still good; all others sensors are reading open circuit values. This station will be restarted next week.Station InfoData Graph
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