Word: earthly
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...deep underground explosion sends no air waves, but such explosions, and surface explosions too, send seismic waves through the earth. A station in a quiet place can detect the waves from a one-kiloton explosion as much as 2,200 miles away. The detecting apparatus is accurate enough to pinpoint the explosion within an area of 40-80 sq. mi., less than one-quarter the area of New York City...
...diplomats of the great powers back up their scientists, the earth in a few years will be thinly dotted with observation stations, internationally controlled, packed with sensitive instruments, and each manned by 30-odd scientists and technicians. Most of the stations will be on level terrain, and as far as possible from cities, railroads and heavily traveled highways. Their purpose: to detect clandestine tests of nuclear explosives...
...other scientists issued definite recommendations for a nearly trickproof control system (TIME, Aug. 25). There were no minority reports, no signs of maneuvering for political advantage. Both sides agreed that a proper system of fewer than 200 stations would detect with high accuracy even small explosions anywhere on earth...
Radio Giveaway. Another detecting method is by means of radio waves caused by the gamma rays from a nuclear explosion above the surface of the earth or sea. Radio waves from a one-kiloton test can be detected 4,000 miles away under favorable Circumstances, and can locate within 20 miles an explosion 600 miles away...
...these detecting methods work very quickly. Another method, collecting radioactive debris from an explosion, takes more time, but is nonetheless useful. The experts recommended that rainfall all over the earth be checked for radioactivity. In dry countries a special collecting surface should be washed down periodically and the water checked. Weather airplanes flying their regular routes can carry observers and collecting equipment...