Japan: 9.0 Earthquake-Tsunami-Nuclear Reactor Developments #1

[belimom]

Another headline from CNN.com:

"We are assuming that a meltdown has occurred" at a quake-damaged nuclear reactor, Japan's chief Cabinet secretary says.

www.cnn.com

 

[not_my_kids]

CNN speaking to Doctors w/o Borders rep, he says that blankets, food, water are all desperately needed, but medical needs are pretty much covered, so that's good news. The bad news is that they can't even compare this to anything else because of the radiation risk. That's new even to them, and DWB has literally been everywhere.

 

[Kat]

Well I don't know how the wind blows,but I lived in San Diego when Mt. St Helens blew,and after a couple days we had ash falling in San Diego and the sky was a weird hazy red color. I have no idea how that all compares to a nuclear event,but bad air seems to travel fast and it is pretty scary to me.

I understand about being aware and alert to a situation such as this but--- how many miles are between Mt. St. Helens and San Diego in comparison to the West Coast of the USA and Japan (Oregon and Japan are about 7,000 miles a part)?

Also when that volcano erupted how far into the atmosphere was the ash blown? Does that make a difference in how far particulate or radioactivity will travel? How far into the atmosphere is this radiation being throw into the atmosphere---if at all?

Just some thoughts. JMHO.

 

[Quiche]

Okay-- there are 6 reactors, 3 of which were not online due to maintenance. Reactors 1, 2, and 3 are unable to cool their fuel rods. Numbers one and three are in "partial" meltdown, number two is now venting radioactive steam.

Do I have that right?

 

[hockeymom]

I understand about being aware and alert to a situation such as this but--- how many miles are between Mt. St. Helens and San Diego in comparison to the West Coast of the USA and Japan (Oregon and Japan are about 7,000 miles a part)?

Also when that volcano erupted how far into the atmosphere was the ash blown? Does that make a difference in how far particulate or radioactivity will travel? How far into the atmosphere is this radiation being throw into the atmosphere---if at all?

Just some thoughts. JMHO.

I have no idea. All good questions. Maybe someone can give us insight.

 

[Kat]

I'm really concerned about the survivors. Has anyone seen any news on how soon they can get those supplies into Japan? So many people without basic needs being met---all I can think about is the snapshot of a small child I saw yesterday on the tsunami special. All those children suffering as well right now.

 

[Peachy]

Radiation exceeds legal limit in Fukushima plant premises

Tokyo Electric Power Co. has notified Japan's nuclear safety agency that the radiation level at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has exceeded the legal limit, the agency Sunday.

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77248.html

 

[belimom]

TWO meltdowns?!? Sorry - I just came back to the computer after a break... I may be behind on this awful tragedy so I apologize if I'm posting something that already being discussed.

Shirakawa, Japan (CNN) -- Japanese authorities are operating on the presumption that possible meltdowns are under way at two nuclear reactors, a government official said Sunday, adding that there have been no indications yet of hazardous emissions of radioactive material into the atmosphere.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/japan.quake/index.html

 

[scandi]

I understand about being aware and alert to a situation such as this but--- how many miles are between Mt. St. Helens and San Diego in comparison to the West Coast of the USA and Japan (Oregon and Japan are about 7,000 miles a part)?

Also when that volcano erupted how far into the atmosphere was the ash blown? Does that make a difference in how far particulate or radioactivity will travel? How far into the atmosphere is this radiation being throw into the atmosphere---if at all?

Just some thoughts. JMHO.

Hi Kat, I'd have to go research all of that but do know one thing as I was in Vancouver Wa and lived thru the whole St Helen's eruption and the after effects of it. I heard it on the news and was at the high ridge at 8:10am, and watched almost the whole eruption.

The ash cloud was picked up by the normal winds which took it due East and from there it traveled all the way around the world and back to the Northwest.

I'll call the weather guy at KOIN tonight as he will know which airstream system picked up the cloud of ash from Mt St Helens and how that works.

xox

I just called and he doesn't work on the weekends. Poo Poo P Do ;} I will research that though.

ETA: I found this about the ash cloud of St Helen's: "An ash cloud of new magmatic material and steam reached an altitude of more than 16 miles in ten minutes. The cloud, driven by the prevailing winds, traveled in an east-northeasterly direction and deposited ash in eleven states and reached as far east as Wisconsin".

http://www.smate.wwu.edu/teched/geology/vo-St-Helens.html

I thought it circum-navigated the globe.

 

[Kat]

Flights back into Japan have finally back up.

We had a lot of tourists trapped here in Hawaii that could not return.

Prayers for their families.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14240922

 

[Peachy]

URGENT: Japan revises mega quake's magnitude to 9.0 from 8.8

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77256.html

 

[Peachy]

I can not fathom the magnitude of what these poor people are going through...
earthquake, tsunami, nuclear meltdowns, loss of power, no water or food, lack of heat, cold temps... and on and on.

My prayers are with them.

 

[scandi]

I'm really concerned about the survivors. Has anyone seen any news on how soon they can get those supplies into Japan? So many people without basic needs being met---all I can think about is the snapshot of a small child I saw yesterday on the tsunami special. All those children suffering as well right now.

Yes Kat, we need to keep all of these people in our hearts and prayers. Each person is as precious as the next. xox

 

[Quiche]

3000 people rescued today...

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/12/2741s625881.htm

 

[Reality Orlando]

I came across this site tonight...does it really say there have been over 500 earthquakes worldwide in the past week? If so, is this normal? Lots of info...I'll need to do more reading. My son and his wife are leaving California tonight to come home to Florida. I'll be glad to have them home!

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

 

[Reality Orlando]

The 1995 Kobe earthquake killed over 6400 -- with no tsunami.

3000 people rescued today...

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/12/2741s625881.htm

My prayers are with all the brave search and rescue teams from around the world that have been arriving in Japan to help. True heroes!

 

[Elphaba]

Thank you Quiche, it is a comfort to see rescue numbers rise. I worry that all of the radiation talk is going to start pushing outside groups to not want to go in there, when those poor people need help ASAP.

 

[gitana1]

It's so horrible. I usually can keep my composure but watching a CNN video of people watching as their whole town was swept away, mothers hanging on to their kids, a little girl crying in fear - it's horrific. It just made me weep. http://www.cnn.com/
Having to watch everything swept away - the magnitude, the power, as you stand on a hill realizing how precarious safety is and how nothing that seemed permanent or stable ever is 100%, that's frightening beyond belief.

 

[peeples]

Safety warnings ignored about reactors...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/12/japan-ministers-ignored-warnings-nuclear

Despite the issues... I don't think anything could have stopped what has happened.. it was mother nature...

 

[gitana1]

I came across this site tonight...does it really say there have been over 500 earthquakes worldwide in the past week? If so, is this normal? Lots of info...I'll need to do more reading. My son and his wife are leaving California tonight to come home to Florida. I'll be glad to have them home!

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

We have numerous earthquakes every day. You can call your local seismology lab and ask how many earthquakes they have had that day or week and they'll tell ya'. The thing is, most are so small they can't be felt. I have been struck by the fact that there have been so many large and destructive ones in the last several years. It does seem there are more such earthquakes than usual. I don't know. Scientists do not seem alarmed though and I'll admit to being pretty dumb when it comes to science!