RADIATION MONITORING HANDBOOK FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTS: From Nuclear Test Legacies to Autonomous Robotic Surveillance

This comprehensive handbook presents a systematic and interdisciplinary analysis of marine radiation monitoring, integrating three traditionally separate domains: the environmental legacy of oceanic nuclear weapons testing, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technologies for radiation detection, and strategic frameworks for global marine protection.

Part I: The Nuclear Legacy of the Ocean examines the history and enduring consequences of nuclear tests conducted between 1946 and 1958 at major sites including Bikini and Enewetak Atolls (Marshall Islands), Mururoa Atoll (French Polynesia), Chernaya Bay (Novaya Zemlya), and the Montebello Islands (Australia). It documents immediate ecological destruction, long-term radionuclide contamination of sediments and food webs, bioaccumulation pathways in marine organisms, and the paradoxical resilience of coral reef ecosystems.

Part II: Technologies for Marine Radiation Monitoring provides a comprehensive review of contemporary technologies for in situ marine radiation monitoring, with particular emphasis on the European RAMONES project. It examines autonomous underwater gliders, benthic laboratories, miniaturized gamma-ray spectrometry, swarm robotics, and artificial intelligence systems for adaptive surveillance and real-time data analysis.

Part III: Strategic Frameworks and Future Directions proposes integrated strategic frameworks for global marine radiation monitoring, addressing data fusion, AI-enhanced decision-making, international cooperation, and alignment with sustainable development goals.

Part IV: Practical Guidelines and Protocols offers practical guidelines and protocols for AUV deployment, data interpretation, emergency procedures, and risk communication, designed for researchers, engineers, first responders, and policy makers.

This handbook fills a critical gap in the scientific literature, providing the first unified reference that connects the historical legacy of nuclear testing with cutting-edge autonomous monitoring technologies and actionable strategies for marine environmental protection. It is intended as a comprehensive resource for scientists, engineers, security professionals, and students working at the intersection of nuclear science, marine ecology, and autonomous systems.