Earthquake (8.9magnitude) & Tsunami hits Tokyo

Degenerate

AD9898 wrote: »

San Francisco is sure to bite the dust within a decade or two.

And unlike some of my other predictions, which maybe up for some debate, this will happen without any doubt, that's what plates do, they move.

Er, no. there is no doubt that there will be major earthquakes in San Francisco in future, maybe even ones as big or bigger than this Japanese quake, but by saying "a decade or two" you're making just another debatable assertion. The Seismologists don't know, but you do?

GDB2222

AD9898 wrote: »

I can't understand for the life of me why nuclear facilities are built so close to huge fault lines.

If you build in Japan, you build near major fault lines.

Generali

AD9898 wrote: »

Out in sunny Australia at the min, there is quite a bit of coverage out here. Just shows how insignificant we are as a race when we see this kind of carnage. I can't understand for the life of me why nuclear facilities are built so close to huge fault lines. San Francisco is sure to bite the dust within a decade or two.

And unlike some of my other predictions, which maybe up for some debate, this will happen without any doubt, that's what plates do, they move.

Welcome to godzone. The Aussie news is pretty international. I think that reflects that we're a country of immigrants where very little of note happens!

GDB2222

globalds wrote: »

For any body who is happy to read a fairly lengthy blog post.

Here is a link to a really well written analysis of why the Japanese Nuclear plants are not something to worry about.

http://morgsatlarge.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/why-i-am-not-worried-about-japans-nuclear-reactors/

This really is worth a read.

I was made aware of it by one of my friends who is in Tokyo.

That's an interesting piece about reactor #1, which is fuelled with uranium.

The latest one where there's been an explosion is reactor #3, which is a MOX reactor, where 7% of the fuel is Plutonium. Plutonium can cause far far more health issues. We know that some gases have been vented from the pressure vessel, and the hydrogen contained in that gas is what's caused the explosion. I don't think the explosion is important unless it's damaged the pipework, but it's quite worrying that some plutonium may have been vented.

Generali

Before and after the tsunami in the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-photos-japan-before-and-after-tsunami.html?hp

southantrim3

AD9898 wrote: »

Out in sunny Australia at the min, there is quite a bit of coverage out here. Just shows how insignificant we are as a race when we see this kind of carnage. I can't understand for the life of me why nuclear facilities are built so close to huge fault lines. San Francisco is sure to bite the dust within a decade or two.

And unlike some of my other predictions, which maybe up for some debate, this will happen without any doubt, that's what plates do, they move.

Scarily population control, look at Haiti not that long ago. Huge devastation, lots of people lost their lives.

ALIBOBSY

Degenerate wrote: »

Er, no. there is no doubt that there will be major earthquakes in San Francisco in future, maybe even ones as big or bigger than this Japanese quake, but by saying "a decade or two" you're making just another debatable assertion. The Seismologists don't know, but you do?

I would be very worried if I was in SF now. There has been alot of big movement on that pacific plate (christ church and japan are a case in point).
Readings on the southern end of the san andreas fault show a huge build up of pressure and it is well over due for a big correction.

Many seismologists are talking years never mind decades, horrible thought.

ali x

GDB2222

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said there were signs that the fuel rods were melting in all three reactors at Fukushima Daiichi.
"Although we cannot directly check it, it's highly likely happening," he told reporters.

From the bbc reports. So, the Japanese think they have meltdown.

globalds

This is the part of the piece that looks like it will spread further and last longer than the radiation

Updated) I believe the most significant problem will be a prolonged power shortage. 11 of Japan’s 55 nuclear reactors in different plants were shut down and will have to be inspected, directly reducing the nation’s nuclear power generating capacity by 20%, with nuclear power accounting for about 30% of the national total power generation capacity. I have not looked into possible consequences for other nuclear plants not directly affected. This will probably be covered by running gas power plants that are usually only used for peak loads to cover some of the base load as well. I am not familiar with Japan’s energy supply chain for oil, gas and coal, and what damage the harbors, refinery, storage and transportation networks have suffered, as well as damage to the national distribution grid. All of that will increase your electricity bill, as well as lead to power shortages during peak demand and reconstruction efforts, in Japan.

Gas prices rose in Europe today.

Tokyo is on a rolling power shut off for the foreseeable future...Business won't like that and will pay to get what it needs ..Meaning prices will rise.

There is the other very important question ...Can Japan afford this disaster.

joolsybools

Scary stuff