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https://theconversation.com/this-black-smoke-rolling-through-the-mulga-almost-70-years-on-its-time-to-remember-the-atomic-tests-at-emu-field-181061>
"The name Emu Field does not have the same resonance as Maralinga in Australian
history. It is usually a footnote to the much larger atomic test site in South
Australia. However, the weapons testing that took place in October 1953 at Emu
Field, part of SA’s Woomera Prohibited Area, was at least as damaging as what
came three years later at Maralinga.
The Emu Field tests, known as Operation Totem, were an uncontrolled experiment
on human populations unleashing a particularly mysterious and dangerous
phenomenon – known as “black mist” – which is still being debated.
Operation Totem involved two “mushroom cloud” tests, held 12 days apart, which
sought to compare the differences in performance between varying proportions of
isotopes of plutonium. The tests were not safe, despite assurances given at the
time.
Between 1952 and 1957, Britain used three Australian sites to test 12 “mushroom
cloud” bombs: the uninhabited Monte Bello Islands off the Western Australian
coast and the two South Australian sites. (An associated program of tests of
various weapons components and safety measures continued at Maralinga until
1963.)
The British government, with loyal but uncomprehending support from Australia
under Liberal prime minister Robert Menzies, proceeded despite incomplete
knowledge of atomic weapons effects or the sites’ meteorological and
geographical conditions."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
