Earthquake & tsunami hits Japan

[kinboshi]

It's a 5 at most from where I can see.  Similar to Three Mile Island.  The effects of the emergency are confined (totally or almost totally) to the immediate vicinity of the plant. 

If the situation deteriorates and something goes 'badly' wrong, then I can see it becoming a 6.  However, I just can't see the situation ever becoming a 7, not unless there's another massive earthquake/tsunami and I hope that it won't be the case.

[kinboshi]

Here are some graphs showing the radiation levels in various locations in Japan.

http://fleep.com/earthquake/

(the figures are in μSv, and not mSv. 1,000 μSv = 1 mSv)

Again, the data would seem to suggest that those outside the evacuation zone are not under any desperate health risk from killer radiation clouds (if you've seen the sun's coverage of this it would be laughable if it wasn't so bad).

In the immediate vicinity of Fukushima No.1 the levels of radiation are very high (and have increased over the past three days) and I hope those involved in trying to bring the situation under control have taken all the necessary safety precautions (constant shift-changing, protective gear, etc.).

[kinboshi]

Click to see full-size image.

An anti-hoarding pamphlet/poster to highlight to people in the affected areas that some things can go a lot further if shared between many rather than hoarding them.  I think the pictures are pretty self-explanatory?

[Bongo]

Reminds me of a book we read at school. I can't remember the name of it though.

[AndrewT]

12 toilet rolls can wipe a thousand arses?

[kinboshi]

12 toilet rolls can wipe a thousand arses?

Yep - that's pretty much it.

[AndrewT]

1 loaf of bread can build one house and 1 can of gas can make ten acorns.

[kinboshi]

1 loaf of bread can build one house and 1 can of gas can make ten acorns.

Almost

1 loaf of bread can be shared between a whole family for meals (the loaves of bread in Japan tend to be a lot smaller than here, as they eat less of it).

1 can of gas is enough to make warm meals (rice meals) for 10.  I thin it's a small can of gas rather than a big hefty Calor-gas style thing.

[ACE2M]

the chinooks trying to get water from the sea to drop on nuclear reactors seems so desperate to me. if thats the current best idea they have - I fear the worst.

[kinboshi]

the chinooks trying to get water from the sea to drop on nuclear reactors seems so desperate to me. if thats the current best idea they have - I fear the worst.

It could actually be a worse plan than you first think.  There's a fear that the used fuel rods (in reactor 4?) could start undergoing a fission reaction again.  Water will cool the rods, but water also acts to slow down the neutrons in order to facilitate fission.  Without the water (or other medium) the neutrons travel too quickly to interact with the uranium atoms.  This is why boric acid is a preferred option - it will cool and the boron absorbs the neutrons, helping to prevent the chain reaction.

I think that's the physics anyway, Rex will correct me if I'm wrong

[ACE2M]

the chinooks trying to get water from the sea to drop on nuclear reactors seems so desperate to me. if thats the current best idea they have - I fear the worst.

It could actually be a worse plan than you first think.  There's a fear that the used fuel rods (in reactor 4?) could start undergoing a fission reaction again.  Water will cool the rods, but water also acts to slow down the neutrons in order to facilitate fission.  Without the water (or other medium) the neutrons travel too quickly to interact with the uranium atoms.  This is why boric acid is a preferred option - it will cool and the boron absorbs the neutrons, helping to prevent the chain reaction.

I think that's the physics anyway, Rex will correct me if I'm wrong

i'm impressed if you randomly know this stuff!  i'm even more worried for them now.

[The-Crow]

Its just so sad

too sad to comment on

And on top of everything else

its started snowing

[kinboshi]

This doesn't fill anyone with confidence in TEPCO.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/20110316-866921/news/20110317-OYT1T00291.htm

Bascially, TEPCO has been providing ongoing radiation levels at the plant, but for about 9 hours yesterday these are missing. Apparently, someone at TEPCO accidentally disconnected a communications line between the main office and the nuclear power plant in Tomioka, Fukushima prefecture while performing construction work on the power lines.

[kinboshi]

This was the time the radiation levels at the plant would have been close to their highest.

[kinboshi]

http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/03/17/comparing-chernobyl-fukushima/

Interesting article comparing and contrasting Fukushima and Chernobyl.