Methodological Approaches to the Reconstruction of Radioactive Fallout Patterns and Radiation Burdens from Nuclear Explosions

The problem of radioactive contamination of the natural environment has recently taken on new urgency, particularly since the Chemobyl accident. Existing radioactively contaminated areas are being thoroughly studied; new areas contaminated by well known and insufficiently studied sources are being discovered. Problems of sea and ocean contamination are considered separately, in particular radwaste contamination. This paper deals with the most important issue, i.e., reconstructing the nature and quantitative indices of terrain radioactive contamination which occurred months or years ago.