Battlefield Dust and Atmospheric Characterization Measurements during West German Summertime Conditions in Support of Grafenwoehr Tests

摘要

This report describes the results of an attempt to characterize the aerosol generated by 155 mm artillery projectile explosions by directly instrumenting the expected impact area. Cascade impactors, filter samplers and a particulate spectrometer were used to determine particulate composition and size distribution. From the resulting data which are presented here, calculation of mass loading and visible and infrared wavelength extinction were made and are included. These results are unique in that they show the effect of projectile explosions just a few feet away from the instrumentation with a time resolution of 1 second. Mass loadings as high as 2 gm/m were detected; extinction was not significantly wavelength dependent. The conclusion was that one can, as a practical matter, directly instrument the impact area during artillery barrage firings with an acceptable, though not trivial, risk to equipment. The test was conducted at an artillery training area near Grafenwoehr, Germany, in June 1979. A description of the meteorological situation is included. (Author)