Third Explosion: Japan Nuclear Crisis Worsens: Now What?

I  imagine everyone  following the crisis in Japan  is already quite aware that a third  hydrogen explosion occurred yesterday at one of several  nuclear reactors damaged by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake .  This tragedy is already in epic proportions; in strength of aftershocks,  in loss of buildings and infrastructure damage. IN terms of  human losses , the horrific death toll from the earthquake and the tsunami  has now been estimated to exceed 10,000, and there are potentially greater problems developing. 


Radiation levels are rapidly on the rise as seemingly futile attempts are made to cool the damaged reactors.  The reactor cores have been exposed with no cooling systems or backup power generation systems  in working order,  causing severe heating and potential meltdown. 
Sea water has been pumped into the reactors, in a desperate, last-ditch  attempt to cool the overheated cores to prevent the zirconium-encased uranium fuel rods from melting.  Pumping in sea-water creates  hydrogen, which when mixed with oxygen, causes powerful explosions.   
The inevitable has happened, the inability of the nuclear facility operators to vent the build-up of hydrogen and pressure resulted in the latest explosion.  Bottom line, radioactive particulate matter is being dispersed on the winds. 

 Ever heard of "Three Mile Island?"  Ever heard of "Chernobyl",  the worst nuclear accident in history? The Japanese crisis has already been likened to Three Mile Island and the worst is yet to come.   A storage pond is on fire, spewing radioactive  contaminated material into the air.  Even spent fuel rods are dangerous; containing plutonium, cesium, and strontium,  the fuel rods, although encased in zirconium, can ignite and burn, releasing radiation into the atmosphere.  Spent fuel rods are stored in deep water pools to keep them cooled down.  In Japan, the 4o' deep storage pools are located about ten stories up, on the rooftop of the reactors. 

Imagine that. Just how clever was that design?   That seems like it might be "a little problematic "  to put it lightly.  One such pool has lost cooling capacity and is already burning, spewing radioactive matter into the sky.

The World Meteorological Organization (W.M.O.), reports that for now, radiation is blowing away from Japan and eastward into the Pacific Ocean.   Should the winds turn westward, a very large area of Japan can be very adversely affected. Approximately  500,000 people have already been evacuated. 


How far does radioactive particulate matter  travel?  Being pumped high into the atmospheric winds, such materials can travel thousands of miles.   If winds are predominantly east,  clearly the west coast of North America will eventually be subjected to some degree of risk.  The question is only "how much" and "when".   If the winds turn westward, great areas of Japan may be contaminated.  Why is this so critical?
  For the uninformed, radioactive material does not simply "go away".   It is dangerous  particulate matter, and cannot be  diluted in the same manner a liquid spill can be.  Although radioactivity can be measured carefully, monitored, or  dispersed,  it should not be foolishly ignored.   It can be  blown away by dry winds or  washed back  into the soil, "out of sight, out of mind",   --- but it does not "go away".  Radiation can can enter the food chain, causing mutations,  cancers, and death.  
It will be with us for 200,000 years or longer.  
This disaster was inevitable.  How can we prevent such horrific tragedies from happening again that involve nuclear facilities?

It seems to me this tragedy is an extremely good reason for humanity to re-think the whole approach we take to the generation of energy.  The biggest nuclear generator around, the sun --is  a few million miles away--and the energy we get from it is free.  

Let's get with it, people,  we CAN do it;  solar energy IS the way to go.

At Incoming BYTES  we continue to offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the people of Japan for their lost family members and extreme difficulties in this tragedy.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Japan Disasters: Another Earthquake and Nuclear Plant Meltdowns?

Following  details of the historic and tragic results of the Japanese disaster has become far more complicated. 
 As if the first earthquake  and tsunami wasn't bad enough,  yet another earthquake has shaken Northwestern Japan.   
The total death toll from the March 11th/11  magnitude 8.9 earthquake, the fifth largest recorded in history , followed by a deadly tsunami,   remains unknown at this time.  Although over a thousand deaths are already known to have occurred, the potential loss of life is staggering, Over 10,000 people  are known to be missing from a single town alone.
To complicate things further, at 10:26 Sunday, Mar. 13,  --a new 6.2 magnitude earthquake has  occurred in Northeastern Japan , this time closer to Tokyo.  
In addition, and almost unbelievably,  damaged nuclear plants threaten to melt down   A partial meltdown of one reactor  may already be in progress, with more than serious consequences.  A vast area has been evacuated with almost 200,000 people moving out.  A total of three nuclear reactors were damaged when cooling systems and backup systems were disrupted by earthquake damage.  Is another Chernobyl disaster in the making, or has it already occurred?  It is unknown. 

Are more of these devastating earthquakes to come?  With more than 150 aftershocks recorded, it is likely, but this too,  is simply unknown. 
What is known is that the tragedy continues to unfold before the eyes of the rest of the world, with possibly the worst yet  to come.  Even  the earth  itself  was  moved on it's axis reportedly 10cm  (4") and the big island of Japan has been moved approximately 2 meters.   (~8 feet)   by the 8.9 magnitude quake.
What does such a major shift mean?  Is the whole Pacific "Ring of Fire" on the move?  Will the tectonic plates continue to move once they shift, or with pressure relieved, wait another 50 years? 
There are many questions without answers but one thing is for sure. 

Clearly  the astounding power of nature cannot and should not be underestimated.  

 Is the earth's crust  being affected by a super-moon effect that has not yet peaked?    Will the center of gravity of the earth itself change?  Will the magnetic fields on the earth be changed by this relative change?  Will the magnetic poles move, or even switch polarity?  
Only time will tell.   Meantime, hang onto your hats.  The earth is on the move. 

*At Incoming Bytes  we offer our most sincere condolences to the families of those lost in this horrific tragedy.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.