One of the nuclear plants in japan affected by the quake had an explosion a few minutes ago. No details yet but appears worse than media reporting, the scale probably admitted to only because the explosion was caught on video pardon my skepticism. 20km radius evac zone I just heard. I'm not a scientist but it looked like something under pressure popped pretty badly, like a reactor vessel. the visible pressure wave prior to the explosion/cloud was decent. fingers crossed for all.
Keeeee-ripes... This is nuts: "The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis." I'm not sure the term "earthquake" adequately sums up any force that shifts the Earth on its axis, we're a cosmic knuckleball... "Reports from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy estimated the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the planet on its axis by nearly 4 inches (10 centimeters)." http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/japan.earthquake.tsunami.earth/index.html
This is apparently quite an explosion. Not nuclear in nature, rather chemical or steam...still very large. It appears to have damaged the secondary containment structure, otherwise known as the reactor building. This is the structure that surrounds the primary containment which in turn surrounds the reactor and other primary reactor systems. The secondary containment contains the emergency core cooling systems, the multiple trains of safety systems, etc. If I had to guess, I'd say this was a chemical explosion just because there should not be enough steam in the secondary containment systems to generate that much energy. They are also reporting that radiation levels are dropping and that IF a worker was to be exposed to the radiation for a whole work year...ie 2000 hours he would receive 3 times the NRC allowable for a worker in the US....This equates to 15 REM divided by 2000 hrs or 7.5 millirem per hour. My numbers are VERY approximate but still 7.5 millirem per hour is NOT a great deal of dose so I'm believing that the core is intact and contained. They should be relieving the decay heat from the core to the suppression pool within the primary containment and this water may be the source of the radiation they are discussing.
That's crazy. It shifted Japan and the Earth on it's Axis? Any Conspiracy theorists like myself thinking 2012???? Glad I'm stock piling Gun Powder, Bullets, cases and primers for reloading
It just shows how piddling and insignificant a species we are compared to the power of nature. That's just the power of geological forces, let alone astronomical. I wonder what was the total energy released from that quake. I'd wager it was many orders of magnitude larger than the combined force of the world's nuclear arsenal. EDIT: I was bored so I figured it out. An 8.8 magnitude is the energy equivalent of 2 million Hiroshima bombs. That works out to an 8.9 being the equivalent of about 36,500 megatons.
I wouldnt be trusting what the government reports. I see a reactor blow like that I am long gone. What are they supposed to say? The core is exposed and melting down but dont panic and try to leave the island.
A lack of knowledge leaves you exposed to either trusting the government or distrusting them...either position is based on an emotional response and hardly satisfactory.....Oh by the way, I distrust government too....
Without power to the cooling systems there is a risk that they all could meltdown. They detected high levels of cesium which only happens when the rods are exposed. Lets hope it doesnt drift over any population centers if it does meltdown
For those of us who don't know how a nuclear reactor facility works.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJfIbBDR3e8
Via Correspondant Michael Yon (Currently in Afghanistan but about to head to Japan) I think the last statement is good advice in any case. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/11031222-e.html Press Release (Mar 12,2011) Impact to TEPCO's Facilities due to Miyagiken-Oki Earthquake (as of 3PM) Below is major impact to TEPCO's facilities due to the Miyagiken-Oki Earthquake that occurred yesterday at 2:46PM. *new items are underlined [Nuclear Power Station] Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: Units 1 to 3: shutdown due to earthquake Units 4 to 6: outage due to regular inspection * The national government has instructed evacuation for those local residents within 10km radius of the periphery. * Measurement of radioactive material (Iodine, etc.) by monitoring car indicates increasing value compared to normal level. One of the monitoring posts is also indicating higher than normal level. We will continue monitoring discharge of radioactive material from exhaust stack and discharge canal, etc. * Reactor of Unit 1 has been shut down and steam in reactor has been cooled by isolation condenser, but it is now stopped. Because pressure level in reactor containment vessel is increasing, following the national government instruction, we have done the measure to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessels in order to fully secure safety and we understand that we have succeeded it at 2:30PM. At present, reactor water level is becoming lower and we are injecting water accordingly. * Reactor of Unit 2 has been shut down and we continue injecting water by Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System. Current reactor water level is lower than normal level, but the water level is steady. Following the national government instruction, we are preparing to implement a measure to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessels in order to fully secure safety. * Reactor of Unit 3 has been shut down and we continue injecting water by Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System. Following the national government instruction, we are preparing to implement a measure to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessels in order to fully secure safety. * We are implementing a measure to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessels, but, one of our employees working in the Unit 1 was irradiated at over 100mSv level(106.3mSv). He received a medical treatment by a special physician. Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station: Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to earthquake * The national government has instructed evacuation for those local residents within 3km radius of the periphery and indoor standby for those local residents between 3km and 10km radius of the periphery. * At present, we have decided to prepare implementing measures to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of air containing radioactive materials) in order to fully secure safety. These measures are considered to be implemented in Units 1, 2 and 3 and accordingly, we have reported and/or noticed the government agencies concerned. * Unit 3 has been stopped and being "nuclear reactor cooling hot stop" at 12:15PM. Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station: Units 1, 5, 6, 7: normal operation Units 2 to 4: outage due to regular inspection [Thermal Power Station] Hirono Thermal Power Station Units 2 and 4: shutdown due to earthquake Hitachinaka Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake Kashima Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3, 5, 6: shutdown due to earthquake Ohi Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3: shutdown due to earthquake Higashi-Ohgishima Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake [Hydro Power Station] 4 stations in Fukushima Prefecture were shutdown due to earthquake. Power stations in Yamanashi Prefecture have been restored. [Transmission System, etc.] 5 substations shown below have been shutdown: - Naka Substation - Shin Motegi Substation - Joban Substation - Ibaraki Substation - Nishi Mito Substation [Blackout in TEPCO's Service Area] Total of about 0.6 million households are out of power. Tokyo: 0 Kanagawa Pref.: 0 Tochigi Pref.: 30,389 Chiba Pref.: 36,456 Saitama Pref: 0 Gunma Pref.: 0 Ibaraki Pref: 537,288 Yamanashi Pref: 0 Shizuoka Pref: 0 (east of Fuji River) [Supply and Demand Status within TEPCO's Service Area to Secure Stable Power Supply] Backup supply from Shinshinano Conversion Station: 600MW Backup supply from Sakuma Conversion Station: 300MW Backup supply from Higashi Shimizu Conversion Station: 100MW Because TEPCO's facilities have been seriously damaged, power shortage may occur. TEPCO appreciates customers' cooperation in reducing electricity usage by avoiding using unnecessary lighting and electrical equipment. We are taking all measures to restore power, however, we expect extremely difficult situation in power supply for tomorrow as well. We kindly ask our customers to cooperate with us in reducing usage of power. Please do NOT touch cut-off electric wires.