SEARCH FOR INDICATIONS OF NUCLEAR TESTING IN AREAS OF SEISMIC EVENTS (3-29 MAY AND 23-28 AUGUST 1961) IN THE USSR AND CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200240023-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Sequence Number: 23
• Content Type: MF

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Copy l 1
6 Pages
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
POST OFFICE BOX 2821
WASHINGTON 13. D. C.
faPa COPY
6 November 1961
NP IC/IM-39/61
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence
(CIA/OSI)
THROUGH:
ATTENTION:
SUBJECT:
TALENT Control Officer, CLA/OSI
Search for Indications of Nuclear Testing in Areas
of Seismic Events (3-29 May and 23-28 August
1961) in the USSR and China
REFERENCES: (a) Requirement OSI/R-165/61
(b) NPIC Project JN-271/61
1. The purpose of this memorandum is to present the results of a
search of available photography covering the areas of 21 unidentified
seismic events in the periods 3-29 May and 23-28 August 1961 submitted
with OSI Requirement R- 165/61. The search was for any signs of prepa-
rations for, or effects of, any clandestine nuclear testing in the USSR and
China. No indications of nuclear testing were identified.
2. Where photography was available, an area having a radius of
approximately 25 nautical miles (nm) from the coordinates of the epicenter
of each event was searched. In several cases only part of the area was
covered, and in some cases the area was partially or completely covered
by clouds and/or haze. Photography dated more than 2 years prior to the
dates of the events.uias iiotntladed in the search.
TOP SECRET 25X1
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TOP SECRET
SUBJECT: Search for Indications of N clear Testing NPIC/IM-39/61
in Areas of Seismic Event (3-29 May and
23-28 August 1961) in the SSR and China
3. . It should be kept in mind that the characteristics of some of the
photography (small scale, poor image, obliquity, partial coverage,
weather conditions, etc.) considerably hindered the photographic search.
4. The following is the status of photographic coverage of the
epicenters:
a.
b.
Epicenters with partial or complete photographic
coverage
Epicenters without photographic coverage
1
Total
21
Note: Two seismic events, dated 4 May and 25 May 61, located
in Burma were deleted from this report.
5. Attached is the list of seismic events, in the order of occur-
rence, giving the location, photographic coverage available, and the
results of the photographic interpretation search.
Operations Officer
Enclosure:
Photographic Coverage of Areas of Unidentified Seismic Events.
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Distribution:
Copy No 1 and 2 - Addressee
3 - SIO, Army
4 - SIO, Navy
5 -'SIO, Air Force
6 - SIO, CIA
7 - Liaison Officer, NSA
8 - Operations Officer, NPIC
9 - Chief, PD
10 - Chief, RS
11 - Chief, DMD
12- 15 - Chief, CIA/PAD/LS
16-24 - Files
NPIC/PAGI I(31 October 1961)
TOP SECRET
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PIIOTOGRAPIIIC COVERAGE OF AREAS OF UNIDENTIFIED SEISMIC EVENTS
NPIC/I1C 39/61
Enclosure
Date of
Location,
Seismic
Coordinates,
PhMieoto s ion, Date
Pass/
F F Cam a
Classification
Weather
Remarks
Event
WAC
m
rames
3 May 61 Kamchatka
53-30N 159-06E
WAC 194
Complete coverage, Clouds obscure
most of area. Nothing pertinent
identified,
IIC Area completely obscured by clouds.
Cr)
rn
n
M
-1
4 May 61 Kuril Islands
45-12N 148-48E
WAC 290
4 May 61 '' Hindu Kush
37-24N 071-42E
WAC 336
5 May 61 v Kamchatka
54-18N 159-00E
WAC 194
(3-29 May and 23-28 August 1961)
25X1
Sc Oblique coverage. Poor image, obliquity,
and clouds prevent interpretation.
Sc Partial coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
SC-II Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
IIC-SC Complete coverage. Cloudy obscure
much of area. Nothing pertinent
identified.
6 May 61 Kamchatka
59-48N 156-42E
WAC 194
8 May 61 Tien Shan
39-48N 078-12E
WAC 335
IIC Complete coverage. Area obscured by
clouds.
C1 Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified,
Sc Partial coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
11 May 61 , Coast of Kamchatka
54-24N 159-06E
WAC 194
SC-II Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
IIC-SC Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
0
10
N
m
n
m
-I
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NPIC/IM-39/61
Enclosure
PIIOTOGRAPIIIC COVERAGE OF AREAS OF UNIDENTIFIED SEISMIC EVENTS - (Continued)
Date of
Location,
Mission,
Camera or Pass/
Classification
r
IVenther
Remarks
Seismic
Coordinates,
Photo Date
Frames
Event
WAC
12 May 61 Sinkiang-
\J Kirgiz Border
39-42N 074-18E
WAC 335
Cl Complete coverage, Nothing pertinent
identified.
SC Partial coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified. -
-4
0
14 May 61 Kamch,tk a
53-42N 158-18E
WAC 194
15 May 61 ~ Hindu Kush
37.30N 072-OOE
WAC 336
17 May 61 Tibet
34-06N 090-36E
WAC 434
20 May 61 Sinkiang
39-24N 077-12E
WAC 335
SC Complete coverage. Most of area
obscured by clouds. Nothing pertinent
identified.
Cl Partial coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
Cl Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
SC Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
22 May 61 , Sinkiang
39-36N 073-42E
WAC 336
IIC partial coverage. Area obscured by
clouds.
Cl Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
25 May 61 , Sinkiang
40-OON 078.00E
WACs 329, 335
Cl Complete coverage, Nothing pertinent
identified.
SC-II Partial coverage. haze and clouds
obscure molt of area. Nothing pertinent
identified.
0
I
n
M
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NPIC/IM-39/61
Enclosure
PIIOTOGRAPIIIC COVERAGE OF AREAS OF UNIDENTIFIED SEISMIC EVENTS - (Continued)
Dato of
Location,
Mission
Camera or Pass/
Seismic
Coordinates,
Photo Date
Frames
Classification.
Weathers
Remarks
Event_
WAC
27 May 61 Hindu Kush
35-18N 070-06 E
WAC 431
28 May 61 Sinkiang
40-1SN 078-06E
1VAC 329
29 May 61 , Kamchatka
55-18N 159-30E
11AC 194
23 Aug 61 Kamchatka
54-00N 157-OOE
WAC 194
24 Aug 61 ICamchatka
57-OON 1 6 1-OOE
WAC 132
SC Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
Cl Partial coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
II Partial coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
IIC Complete coverage. Area obscured by
clouds.
IIC Complete coverage. Area obscured by
clouds.
C1 Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
SC Complete coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
28 Aug 61 Tibet
32-OON 95-00E
WACs 437, 434, 435
Cl Oblique coverage. Nothing pertinent
identified.
SC-IIC Oblique coverage. Much of area
obscured by clouds. Nothing pertinent
identified.
28 Aug 61 Kamchatka
54-OON 158-00E
WAC 194
SC-II Complete coverage. Much of area
obscured. Nothing pertinent identified.
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