8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan + Tsunami and Alerts

LOLWUThttp://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/r...35_eqs.php

Your point? Mine referred to radiation-sensitive ones.

internet farted, goddamn

Anyway, it looks like they've managed to clear the debris blocking the way of the firetrucks. Attempts to cool down Unit 3 and 4 are under way.

After clearing heavy explosion debris from tsunami and the various explosions across the site over the last six days, eleven high pressure fire trucks are now showering the reactors. It is thought they are targeting unit 3. Tackling that first may lower the high radiation levels on the ground near that unit, allowing more flexibility and speed when tackling unit 4 or any subsequent units whose fuel pools may get into trouble

And most the radiation seems fairly contained within the site's boundaries?

Despite high levels of radiation close to the units, levels detected at the edge of the power plant site have been steadily decreasing.

17 March, 4.00pm
0.64 millisieverts per hour

17 March, 9.00am
1.47 millisieverts per hour

16 March, 7.00pm
1.93 millisieverts per hour

16 March, 12.30pm
3.39 millisieverts per hour

That's about half a day's worth of exposure to be compared with a single CT scan.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-17...-says.html

I can try to look further into this later, but this is definitely something worth mentioning. Apparently people from Japan and/or their luggage is radioactive enough to set off American Radiation detectors.
Not much info is given unfortunately.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/1...6T20110317
It is also stated that radiation will reach america, although it isnt considered "dangerous"

[video=youtube;379kr8qJNCc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=379kr8qJNCc&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Japan is omitting information about the real dangers because of secret pressure from America. It isn't in Obama's best interests for US citizens to be concerned about his use of nuclear power.

Is it really appropriate to try to troll here >.>

Japan is omitting information about the real dangers because of secret pressure from America. It isn't in Obama's best interests for US citizens to be concerned about his use of nuclear power.

Actually, Obama so far (as far as we know) is mostly ignoring the issues in Japan. He is too busy preparing for war in Lybia and Golfing for the 61st time since his presidency began. but those are for another topic. Unless you have proof Obama is relevant to this topic, I suggest you shut up about him.

When it comes to supressing information, if they are it is probably for similar reasons to how Russia supressed info on Chernobyl or how the US EPA lied and said the air around ground zero was safe after 9/11 (truth is, it wasnt and many people suffered, died and are dying from that lie).

"As far as we know" is the key phrase here. If he didn't want you to know, you wouldn't know. This is a serious issue, guys. Obama and his democrats are stripping Americans' rights one by one, and now it's spilling over in to Japan. Everything he does is wrong.

I'm still taking any info about radioactivity levels with a grain of salt, whether it be coming from the US or Japan. Though both the IAEA and the WHO say that the levels aren't high enough to pose serious danger to human health in surrounding areas. I'm assuming that if people on the ground are taking enough precautions, they shouldn't be in too much trouble (I hope)

Also

Lol, Rick. You make me laugh.

Rick, no offense, but your trolling just made me lol.

If you want to post conspiracy theories (or using it to troll people), at least do it with proof. Despite the fact Anonymous Moose bring up some points that irritate me at times, at least he goes out of his way to back it up with something. As long I see that, I just carry on and not worry too much about it (and keep the negative comments to myself). You didn't even try to do it.

And plus, what is your priorities in trolling on an current world news event that is extremely tragic and devastating? I find it extremely disrespectful as well as offensive. I guess you don't have a heart.

On topic: Death toll up to 6,600+ according to the last official count, and some 10,200 are reported missing. I have a feeling that the death toll might hit (or barely hit) the 20,000 mark. At this point, there's likely no chance that survivors are going to be found. :\

I'm still taking any info about radioactivity levels with a grain of salt, whether it be coming from the US or Japan. Though both the IAEA and the WHO say that the levels aren't high enough to pose serious danger to human health in surrounding areas. I'm assuming that if people on the ground are taking enough precautions, they shouldn't be in too much trouble (I hope)

Also

I wouldn't trust the IAEA either if I didn't trust Japan and US official to start with. They are the ones with the most interest in trying to downplay the seriousness of nuclear accidents in general. I just assume there is too much attention at this point that it would be a real risk to try and manipulate information. After all, there are also those anti-nuclear energy advocates running around waiting for their chance. While this is a disaster to the nuclear industry indeed, it is more stupid to give your enemy something to stab you with for good.

@ Will: Rick was just trying to show to Moose his own logic. Although I find that it leaves a bad taste, I personally don't think he's doing it wrong.

@ Will: Rick was just trying to show to Moose his own logic. Although I find that it leaves a bad taste, I personally don't think he's doing it wrong.

If that was true, then he would have posted proof that Obama is attempting to cover up information from Japan. If you think what I say is comparable to what Rick is saying, then you should reassess your logic.

Now, could we ignore the pointless trolling, and simply get back to the facts? We should be discussing the issues in japan and issues that could potentially stem from that/

All sources of available cooling seem to be at work. The Tokyo fire department is hosing water into Units 3 and 4 every time the water level drops low enough through dissipation, the power cable has been completed to run the emergency cooling system in Units 1 and 2. And some functional diesel generators are working on cooling Units 5 and 6, whose temperatures have steadily risen up to ~65 Celsius as of 4PM JST.

Radiation readings outside of the 20km perimeter show 8 areas with abnormally higher radiation than the rest: 158, 61.6, 95.1, 170, 59.3, 91.8, 58.6, and 167 microsieverts per hour. The remaining locations read around 10 microsieverts per hour, with the most part being under 5.
All of the high readings are picked up around 30km away from the plant in the NW or WNW directions and are thought to be the result of a controlled containment venting and a simultaneous fire.

High as it may seem, the level still peaks at 170 microsieverts per hour, which is equivalent to taking 2 X-ray pics per hour, I wish I knew how long it'd take for these to decay, though.

Some interesting things:

The boss of the company behind the devastated Japanese nuclear reactor today broke down in tears - as his country finally acknowledged the radiation spewing from the over-heating reactors and fuel rods was enough to kill some citizens

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ds-newsxml

Apparently Water Pumps failed, but they say they where successful in filling the tanks with water.

A spokesman for the Tokyo Electric Power Company told Japan news agency NHK that "it appears the mission was successful," while a spokesman for the Nuclear And Industrial Safety Agency says the water cannons failed in their attempt to cool the unit when the water failed to reach its target from safe distances.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/17/...wer-plant/

Then some scientific opinion.

"What They Are Doing Is Basically Using Squirt Guns Against a Raging Forest Fire" ... Japanese Should Use the Chernobyl Approach Instead

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/03/p...ng-is.html




Then finally...
[video=youtube;0FNFF61E_Dg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FNFF61E_Dg&feature=player_embedded[/video]
First, does anyone know what her source is?
Second, I agree with the highest rated comment: "Send that peach to Japan, she can suck up all the radiation with her empty head."

Man, do you guys honestly think this world is going to last much longer. I'm skeptical of 2012, but jesus, its one middle finger after another. And I hope this march 19th moon crap isn't true either cus we can say hello too another tsunami.

Man, do you guys honestly think this world is going to last much longer. I'm skeptical of 2012, but jesus, its one middle finger after another. And I hope this march 19th moon crap isn't true either cus we can say hello too another tsunami.

Its a bit off topic, but since you are mentioning that a potential disasterous event could come soon... I'll mention that the UN is planning another illegal war of aggression on lybia.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12781682
Anyway, if we want to talk about that, then we should probably open a new topic.

"What They Are Doing Is Basically Using Squirt Guns Against a Raging Forest Fire" ... Japanese Should Use the Chernobyl Approach Instead

This is by far the worst analogy. The problem is not about the amount of water, it is about the radiation levels present at the site. Efforts to pump water are complicated by the inability to approach the site in the first place. And not ALL Japan has been doing is futile. Yes, the helicopter dropping was a bad idea and whoever came up with it should be ashamed, but we also had 11 firetrucks blasting 30 tonnes of seawater directly at the fuel ponds, we had a functional emergency cooling system, and one (or more? I've only read one) diesel generator that hopefully can keep those pineappleers submerged.

Either he was very ignorant to have made such a claim/comparison, or he was being quoted out of line.

This is by far the worst analogy. The problem is not about the amount of water, it is about the radiation levels present at the site. Efforts to pump water are complicated by the inability to approach the site in the first place. And not ALL Japan has been doing is futile. Yes, the helicopter dropping was a bad idea and whoever came up with it should be ashamed, but we also had 11 firetrucks blasting 30 tonnes of seawater directly at the fuel ponds, we had a functional emergency cooling system, and one (or more? I've only read one) diesel generator that hopefully can keep those pineappleers submerged.

Either he was very ignorant to have made such a claim/comparison, or he was being quoted out of line.

Interestingly enough, the amount of water (to a point) has a direct effect on the radiation levels.

And aside from trying to spray water (which some sources say failed) and dumping water from helicopers, what other methods are they trying? And of course there would be no need for alternative methods if the standard emergency systems were sufficient.
...The bad news is that all methods I hear of seem to be insufficient.

Interestingly enough, the amount of water (to a point) has a direct effect on the radiation levels.

And aside from trying to spray water (which some sources say failed) and dumping water from helicopers, what other methods are they trying? And of course there would be no need for alternative methods if the standard emergency systems were sufficient.
...The bad news is that all methods I hear of seem to be insufficient.

Updated as of 5:50pm GMT
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Spr...03111.html

- Four lolhelicopters dropping 7.5 tonnes each
- Five firetrucks pumping 6 tonnes each
- One police firetruck delivering 40 tonnes
- Six army firetrucks supplying another 40 tonnes
- US forces: 2 tonnes (?)
- Tokyo fire department's Hyper Rescue team joining tomorrow
All that was/is going into Unit 3.

Unit 1&2 and 5&6 are taken (hopefully good) care of by other sources of water supply.

=> Water levels at the central used fuel storage ponds are 'secured' and temperatures are 55ºC. Not saying I trust their definition for "secured", but 55ºC seems breathable at least.

Updated as of 5:50pm GMT
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Spr...03111.html

- Four lolhelicopters dropping 7.5 tonnes each
- Five firetrucks pumping 6 tonnes each
- One police firetruck delivering 40 tonnes
- Six army firetrucks supplying another 40 tonnes
- US forces: 2 tonnes (?)
- Tokyo fire department's Hyper Rescue team joining tomorrow
All that was/is going into Unit 3.

Unit 1&2 and 5&6 are taken (hopefully good) care of by other sources of water supply.

=> Water levels at the central used fuel storage ponds are 'secured' and temperatures are 55ºC. Not saying I trust their definition for "secured", but 55ºC seems breathable at least.

Although, that doesnt say much about how much water is actually getting in the tanks. As I've heard, they cant get close enough for fire trucks to be effective.

A spokesman for the Tokyo Electric Power Company told Japan news agency NHK that "it appears the mission was successful," while a spokesman for the Nuclear And Industrial Safety Agency says the water cannons failed in their attempt to cool the unit when the water failed to reach its target from safe distances.

And 55C is 131F. I dont think Humans are safe breathing that. At least not for long periods of time.

Anyway, its a pain in the ass when sources are conflicting with eachother. Its probably because each source has an agenda and bias (or if you want to take the idealistic view point, maybe some sources only have part of the story).

Anyway, its a pain in the ass when sources are conflicting with eachother. Its probably because each source has an agenda and bias (or if you want to take the idealistic view point, maybe some sources only have part of the story).

Fox is probably the best example here. Heck, the link you provided from Fox News kind of proves that, lol