This 'sniffer plane' is how the U.S. monitors North Korea's nuclear tests
North Korea conducted yet another nuclear test on Sept. 8, and it was seemingly the country's most powerful yet. Registering some 10 kilotons, according to reports from South Korea, the blast was apparently twice as powerful as the last test in January. Both are significant increases in explosive power from the first North Korean test in October 2006, which U.S. intelligence officials estimated to be around 1 kiloton. The numbers are hard to verify, but the test -- which registered as a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in the northeast of the country - angered the international community, particularly South Korea, Japan and the U.S., which view the North as a significant threat. When it comes to finding out exactly what happened, and how far North Korea has progressed in pursuing its unpopular goal, the U.S. has an invaluable asset: the WC-135 aircraft. The WC-135 "Constant Phoenix," is a special "sniffer plane" that can detect radiation after a nuclear event. Its use in North Korea was confirmed earlier this year by an anonymous Pentagon official and its deployment following the recent blast was confirmed to Mashableover email on Friday. "Following the seismic activity and announcement by North Korea of a fifth nuclear test on 9 September local, a WC-135 Constant Phoenix atmospheric collection aircraft is being deployed to the region," said Lori R. Hodge, deputy director of public affairs for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces. The WC-135 -- which the U.S. Air Force describes as an "atmospheric collection aircraft" -- collects particulate and gaseous effluents and debris from accessible regions of the atmosphere. In other words, it has flown near North Korea, not over it, in order to collect evidence related to the test. A specially adapted plane based originally on the Boeing 707 commercial jetliner, which has lived on through military aircraft like the EC-135C, it's been modified to allow its crew to detect radioactive clouds in real time. "This aircraft is designed to collect accurate information on levels of radiation in the atmosphere in order to monitor compliance with international treaties governing nuclear testing, and to provide better understanding of the after-effects of a nuclear incident," Hodge added. "The aircraft gathers scientific data in international airspace over international waters. For operational security reasons, we do not discuss the specific employment of this aircraft." The aircraft was deployed in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which occurred as a result of a deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan. According to Offutt Air Force Base spokesperson Susan Romano earlier this year, the plane has protection from radioactivity built into it, so that the crew members don't need to wear hazardous material suits. The plane is operated by crews from the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. The Constant Phoenix monitoring program dates back to 1947, when General Dwight D. Eisenhower called on the Army Air Force to detect atomic explosions worldwide. A WB-29 flying between Alaska and Japan detected nuclear debris from Russia's first atomic test, the Air Force says. The WC-135s replaced the WB-29a in the mid-1960s, and the planes have since sampled air over several seas and oceans from pole to pole. Despite dating back to the Cold War-era, in an uncertain 2016, they continue to be as vital as ever.Tweet may have been deleted
"This aircraft is designed to collect accurate information on levels of radiation in the atmosphere."
- 最近发表
-
- Apple Watch bands: 5 favorites to consider as Apple Watch 10 looms
- 3年内力争培养万名青年岗位能手 助推雅安跨越式发展
- 阳山农产品走俏羊城,旱地西洋菜半天“脱销”
- 环境治理偷懒耍滑 直接启动相关程序
- Best smart home deal: The Amazon Smart Thermostat is just $63.99
- 品鱼宴、争厨王、观鱼灯……元宵节来中山,看三角生鱼“跃龙门”
- 关于代表提出议案截止时间的决定
- 拿“农民”当“市民”待“用工荒”迎刃而解
- We Cannot Live Without Cryptography!
- 抓好城乡环境综合治理 干干净净迎新春
- 随机阅读
-
- Courting Disaster
- 市公安局刑警支队“大走访”中送安全
- 天全县文化市场实现视频监控管理
- 挂羊头卖狗肉是出国旅游还是出国务工?
- Korea's economy to stop growing without drastic labor change: FKI
- 收官之年再“扩容” 我市大企业大集团净增12户
- 企业打call,大咖云集,佛山预制菜为何这么“香”?
- 收官之年再“扩容” 我市大企业大集团净增12户
- 11 Places to See Tiny Trains
- 市区至成都乐山班线票价涨1元
- 雅化集团与中山大学签署信息化规划项目合作协议
- 品茶吃笋,英德的专属味道
- Number Representations in Computer Hardware
- 抓好城乡环境综合治理 干干净净迎新春
- “给力”才是王道——雅安人话说央视春晚
- 宝兴县 发展特色蔬菜促农增收
- Best smart home deals this week
- 关于代表提出议案截止时间的决定
- 巨头纷纷抢滩!40家猪企在粤产能规划超6100万头
- 2023饲料企业产量20强出炉!已占全国总量62%!
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-