Japan 8.8 Earthquake

[Spitfire]

Errrrm.....Just out of interest like, not trying to be too negative or alarmist, but if there is a massive release of radioactive particles/gas/whatever into the air in a Chernobyl style messy meltdown, then does anyone know anything about the usual prevailing winds in that part of Asia, or in south westerly areas of Japan?

Will it drift south or north or what? We might not be far enough away from it here if it's blown it this direction for a while.

Just for interest, Bangkok to Tokyo is 2860 miles (4603 km). Far enough you think?

[lindosfan1]

Steve this explains how the cooling works, not all nuclear reactors are water cooled.
Reactor
Nuclear reactors work on the principle that nuclear fission releases heat, which can be harnessed and used to heat water into steam to drive turbines.

A typical nuclear reactor uses enriched uranium in the form of fuel 'pellets', each roughly the size of a coin and about an inch long. The pellets are formed into long rods known as bundles, and housed inside a heavily insulated, pressurised chamber.

In many power stations, the bundles are submerged in water to keep them cool. Other types use carbon dioxide or liquid metal to cool the reactor core.

To function in a reactor - ie produce heat through a fissile reaction - the uranium core must be 'critical'. This means that the uranium must be in sufficiently enriched form to allow a self-sustaining chain reaction to occur.

To regulate this process, and allow the nuclear plant to function, control rods are inserted into the reactor chamber. The rods are made of a substance, typically cadmium, which absorbs neutrons inside the reactor.

Fewer neutrons means fewer chain reactions are started, slowing down the fission process. There are more than 400 nuclear power stations across the globe, producing about 17% of the world's electricity. Nuclear reactors are also used to power submarines and naval vessels.

[Nereus]

I'm just hearing now that the cooling system has failed at a second Japanese nuclear power station.

There's reports that tons of 'coolant' is being flown from the USA to Japan. I guess that means those reactors don't use regular water? Pete

Well, this bloke is saying that the US have sent in some back up generators, not "coolant".
As usual, some talking head, probably a female with her skirt up around her arse, has got it wrong!

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/67563000/

[STEVE G]

Many years ago I visited the worlds first nuclear power station at Calder Hall in Cumbria.
I remember feeling slightly uneasy when standing on top of the reactor vessel and the man giving the tour said that the heat you could feel was from the motors driving the control rods but I wasn't too happy with being there all the same!

[hhfarang]

Errrrm.....Just out of interest like, not trying to be too negative or alarmist, but if there is a massive release of radioactive particles/gas/whatever into the air in a Chernobyl style messy meltdown, then does anyone know anything about the usual prevailing winds in that part of Asia, or in south westerly areas of Japan?

Will it drift south or north or what? We might not be far enough away from it here if it's blown it this direction for a while.

Just for interest, Bangkok to Tokyo is 2860 miles (4603 km). Far enough you think?

Not to worry Spitfire... I just heard an "expert" on the news say that the prevailing winds would carry any nuclear "plumes" or clouds of radioactivity east towards the United States.

Migrant and Typically Tropical, maybe you two better keep an eye on this!

[Nereus]

Many years ago I visited the worlds first nuclear power station at Calder Hall in Cumbria.
I remember feeling slightly uneasy when standing on top of the reactor vessel and the man giving the tour said that the heat you could feel was from the motors driving the control rods but I wasn't too happy with being there all the same!

He lied, Steve! I hope that you are not planning on having a family?

[Spitfire]

Looks like it's official on the huge blast at the power station.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219

Very worrying really.

[lindosfan1]

Japan's Fuji TV has run a screen caption saying that as many as 10,000 people are missing in the town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi prefecture.

[migrant]

Migrant and Typically Tropical, maybe you two better keep an eye on this!

[Korkenzieher]

My understanding is that there are 2 ways to explode here - one is that the core explodes and ejects radioactive material (which is what happened at Chernobyl) spreading radioactive material as far as the blast and wind can take it. The other is that there is a blast, which may or may not involve a core rupture, that doesn't involve a core blast. In that case, the core may melt down and remain relatively localised. From what I have seen (and I have no expertise here) detection of Caesium is the critical indicator. So far it looks like Japan's reactor issue is not a core explosion, but may be a core breach. As far as worst-case-scenarios go, it could be worse. But either way, it obviously isn't good!

[pharvey]

Japan's Fuji TV has run a screen caption saying that as many as 10,000 people are missing in the town of Minamisanriku in Miyagi prefecture.

There was always going to be an increase in casualties, but this is truly frightening.

[Big Boy]

I've just been looking at the before and after photos. The only building to survive was the hospital. Nobody could have survived that devastation.

[PeteC]

Foreign reporters have made it to the area and they're broadcasting that the actual city of Sendai looks normal with little visual damage. It's the coastal villages and towns east of Sendai and along the coast north and south that we're seeing devastated. Pete

[margaretcarnes]

Just curious - but has anyone heard whether Thailand plans to send any aid?

[HHADFan]

Just curious - but has anyone heard whether Thailand plans to send any aid?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... ondolences

"The government has announced it is providing five million baht in immediate financial aid for Japan.

Prime Minister Abhisit has assigned Foreign Affairs and Labour ministries to set up a help centre for Thais in Japan. He promised Thailand will consider providing other types of aid to Japan.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Thais are gathering funds to help provide aid to Japan, with some saying they want to reciprocate the support Japan offered to Thailand in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that devastated large areas near the Indian Ocean."