RADIOMETRIC MEASUREMENT OF SKIN TEMPERATURE CHANGES DURING SIMULATED NUCLEAR THERMAL RADIATION

Aircrew members delivering nuclear devices may be exposed to dangerous intensities of thermal radiation even though their cockpit is not oriented directly toward the detonation. Since accuracy of delivery may be inversely related to distance from the target it is important to determine the nearest safe distance from the detonation. Tolerable intensities were deter mined first in a static fighter-bomber, but in those experiments the method prevented valid measurement of subjects' skin temperature in critical areas. A radiometer was designed and constructed using a lead telluride sensor, a mirror optical system, and a germanium optical filter. Nuclear thermal radiation was simulated with 18 heat lamps providing intensities, at the subject. A plexiglass optical filter simulated the aircraft canopy. Five subjects reported painfully hot sensations at skin temperatures of 105-109 degrees F caused by thermal energies. True pain was reported at 112-116 degrees F. Radiometric measurement of these temperatures in no way affected the thermal characteristics or response of the subjects. Temperatures were validated by subdermal thermocouple measurements in 4 experiments. Determination of the responses of 88 subjects gave statistically valid results. The responses of 6 negro subjects showed the importance of the filtering capabilities of plexiglass canopies as they are related to spec tral characteristics of human skin. (Author)