You know what I don't get? Maybe this is stupid but what about an earthquake/tsunami makes a nuclear reactor fail? Is it as simple as broken pipes? I'm sorry if I missed something (I probably did) but the problem seems systemic which makes me think that simple quake-induced pipe breaking isn't enough to have done all this.
You like ships. You don't seem to be looking at the destinations. What you care about is the ships, and mine's the nicest.
Kaylee ,'Serenity'
Natter 67: Overriding Vetoes
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, nail polish, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Stephanie - Mar 14, 2011 6:34:58 pm PDT #28301 of 30001
Trust my rage
Ginger - Mar 14, 2011 6:42:07 pm PDT #28302 of 30001
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
We're still not talking anything like the radiation levels released from Chernobyl, because another difference is that the reaction was shut down when this started, and water-moderated reactors, by definition, can't support a nuclear reaction without water.
The terrible part is that Japan has so much to deal with that's going to kill people immediately.
Cashmere - Mar 14, 2011 6:44:18 pm PDT #28303 of 30001
Now tagless for your comfort.
I know it's bad, Hec. I'm not saying there isn't increasing danger. But as Ginger said, it's not Chernobyl levels of disaster. Yet.
And again, as Ginger points out--it's the other shit they're dealing with right now that makes this one so hard to get under control.
Steph L. - Mar 14, 2011 6:45:54 pm PDT #28304 of 30001
I look more rad than Lutheranism
Nonian, are you still around? Could I e-mail you a quick question about the DUI probation violation?
Stephanie - Mar 14, 2011 6:46:30 pm PDT #28305 of 30001
Trust my rage
Sure; I'm here
Eta: this is the part of DST I hate. I need to get up in the morning but I can't fall asleep. But it does give my sympathy for those with insomnia.
Dana - Mar 14, 2011 6:48:04 pm PDT #28306 of 30001
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
I'm so glad we have us.
Steph L. - Mar 14, 2011 6:48:41 pm PDT #28307 of 30001
I look more rad than Lutheranism
Oh my god, thank you. Insending to your profile addy.
quester - Mar 14, 2011 6:49:38 pm PDT #28308 of 30001
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.
Nonian, the cooling system that keeps circulating water to cool the reactor operates on electricity. the earthquake did not damage the plant, but it did disrupt the power supply so the plant switched to its backup power supply diesel generators. The tsunami swamped the generators. Without the power the cooling system failed.
DavidS - Mar 14, 2011 6:58:15 pm PDT #28309 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
From the Independent:
On a scale from zero to seven, the incident at Fukushima Daiichi has been rated as level four, meaning "accident with local consequences". The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale classified the Three Mile Island disaster in the US in 1979, which resulted from a partial meltdown of a reactor core, as level five, or "accident with wider consequences" – the same category as the Windscale fire of 1957. The Chernobyl crisis in 1986, when a reactor blew apart with a catastrophic release of radioactivity, was classed as seven, a "major accident".
But if they're saying it's beyond Three Mile Island that would be closer to level six.
The thing that's concerning me is that they don't seem to have the resources on site to deal with it. The loss of power and generators is crucial and I haven't gotten the sense that they have it under control.
Lee - Mar 14, 2011 7:11:49 pm PDT #28310 of 30001
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.
HOOKERS AND BLOW