Progress on determining the vapor signature of a buried landmine

The purpose of the Explosives Fate and Transport (EF&T) experiments is to define in detail the accessible trace chemical signature produced by the explosives contained in buried landmines. We intend to determine the partitioning (soil, air, water), composition, and quantity of explosive related chemicals (ERC) which emanate from different kinds of landmines (predominantly plastic-cased with TNT as the main charge) buried in multiple soil types and exposed to various climatic events. We are also developing a computer model that will enable us to predict the composition and quantity of ERC under a much wider range of environmental conditions than we are able to measure experimentally. We have divided our efforts into the following categories: 1. Chemical analysis of the main explosive charge from several sources of TNT and the equilibrium vapor composition from these sources. 2. The amount and composition of ERC that are found on the exterior of landmines. 3. Determination of the flux at which ERC evolves from both plastic and metallic landmines. 4. The effect of environmental factors on ERC, i.e., climate, time since burial, depth of burial, soil properties, sunlight, near surface air movement, and vegetation. 5. The characteristics of post-blast residue as compared to the trace ERC signatures produced by buried landmines. 6. The development and validation of a predictive model to estimate the soil transport of ERC from buried landmines. This model will take into account all of the experimental data collected in items 1-6. This paper summarizes the findings and progress made in each of these 7 categories. In addition it reports on the performance of trained canines at the Fort Leonard Wood research minefield. This paper is presented as a continuation of the work presented in April 1999.