URGENT: Radiation Levels Surge after 8.9 Earthquake in Japan

[SaltwaterServr]

I had heard the fault that moved underwater measured 250 miles long x 100 miles wide and moved a depth of 18 meters. The Japanese coast moved 2.5 meters (8 ft) and the earth's axis shifted 10 cms (4 in).

I had heard the Indonesian earthquake movement which caused the tsunami several years back was a 250 ft ht movement spanning 600 miles long. In a few seconds the plates shifted 250 ft at a length of about the distance from Atlanta to NY all underwater.

My wife told me that the recent Japan quake had 180 times more energy than the Kobe quake of '95.

Memory says the Indonesian quake was a 25 foot jump, but the length sounds right. The grey matter isn't nearly as sharp as it once was though.

 

[burmafrd]

Its not a good idea to have a nuke plant anywhere near where you can have a 8.9 earthquake. Japan gets earthquakes all the time. I do not care how well built and designed a place is, you get hit with a quake that big and there is going to be big trouble.

 

[kristie]

Its not a good idea to have a nuke plant anywhere near where you can have a 8.9 earthquake. Japan gets earthquakes all the time. I do not care how well built and designed a place is, you get hit with a quake that big and there is going to be big trouble.

definately.

 

[Cythim]

Did the axis shift 20 centimeters or the magnetic poles? This is a huge difference that needs clarification.

 

[Cythim]

Chile's earthquake shifted the axis 9cm and Sumatra's shifted it 8cm.

National Geographic article explaining the shifts:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100302-chile-earthquake-earth-axis-shortened-day/

 

[ologan]

Its not a good idea to have a nuke plant anywhere near where you can have a 8.9 earthquake. Japan gets earthquakes all the time. I do not care how well built and designed a place is, you get hit with a quake that big and there is going to be big trouble.

At least if we are faced with a "China Syndrome" scenario,the melted core won't have far to go!

 

[big dog cowboy]

Its not a good idea to have a nuke plant anywhere near where you can have a 8.9 earthquake. Japan gets earthquakes all the time. I do not care how well built and designed a place is, you get hit with a quake that big and there is going to be big trouble.

It was built to withstand a normal earthquake not a history making one.

That is what I heard last night. Still doesn't make sense to me either.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Latest I heard is that the explosion was due to hydrogen gas buildup. The structure encompassing the core seems (fingers-crossed) to be sound and holding. The radiation levels have been decreasing (supposedly) according to a news report.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Now the AP is saying that a second reactor is likely to at least partially melt down. Unbelievably terrible news. Just hope they can contain it enough to prevent a full meltdown.

I have a bad, bad feeling I'm going to get up in the morning and see much worse news. When these things get out of control, it's so difficult to contain them.

 

[theogt]

What really sucks is that this will set nuclear energy back another decade or two in the US when it really this isn't a serious threat at all.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

What really sucks is that this will set nuclear energy back another decade or two in the US when it really this isn't a serious threat at all.

Yep.

No one wants to consider the millions (possibly hundreds of millions) of hours of safe operation of the nuclear plants around the world.

They'll point to this, 3 Mile, and the idiot who didn't know what the hell he was trying to do at Chernobyl.

Japan undergoes earthquakes every single day. It took a 9.0 (they upscaled it today) to knock out two reactors at one plant.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Now the AP is saying that a second reactor is likely to at least partially melt down. Unbelievably terrible news. Just hope they can contain it enough to prevent a full meltdown.

I have a bad, bad feeling I'm going to get up in the morning and see much worse news. When these things get out of control, it's so difficult to contain them.

You pour on concrete to keep the burning under control and cap the emissions of radioactivity from the atmosphere. Once you've hit a tipping point, there is no control over them. I think graphite helps absorb the random neutrinos as well, but I'll admit my particle physics is sorely lacking.

EDIT: TEPCO just sent out a press release saying they've tried to restart the emergency cooling pumps, and failed. Three meters of the fuel rods are now exposed above the water line.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

What really sucks is that this will set nuclear energy back another decade or two in the US when it really this isn't a serious threat at all.

Allow me to echo your sentiments. We're in complete agreement over nuclear energy.

 

[CliffnDallas]

Well, on the bright side. If there's one people who know a thing or two about radiation exposure. It's the Japanese.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

A cooling system at the Onagawa nuclear plant has apparently stopped working now as well.

 

[CliffnDallas]

A cooling system at the Onagawa nuclear plant has apparently stopped working now as well.

This melt down is going to make Charlie Sheen look like a Monk with a stutter.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

You can slide your mouse right to left over these images to see the before and after of the tsunami.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Pretty good article on what happened in Daiichi #1, and what really happens during a melt down.

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/world/article_5212eb5e-4d4a-11e0-a3da-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[big dog cowboy]

You can slide your mouse right to left over these images to see the before and after of the tsunami.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm

Amazing photos.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Latest says #3 reactor is contained.

New footage of the tsunami hitting a town.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12725646