How would a nuclear plant meltdown unfold?
- Control rods are driven back down into the core upon emergency (if rods don’t make it all the way… trouble)
- The coolant (water) could cease if backup systems fail (electricity, pumps, generators, batteries)
- Reactor continues to produce heat
- Numerous venting valve systems would release pressure above ~1,000 psi into containment vessel
- Eventually the uranium fuel encasement metal will melt (2,200 deg F)
- Radioactive contamination then released into the reactor vessel
- Radiation escapes into an outer, concrete containment building
- Radiation escapes into the environment.
Not only would such a disaster be horrible for the local region and Japan, but other countries, namely the U.S. would be effected next by airborne radiation particles, the magnitude of which is yet to be determined.
Why would the west coast USA be in danger?
The prevailing jet stream winds are blowing from Japan directly across the Pacific ocean to the west coast of the United States. Any airborne radiation would make its way across with the jet stream, reaching the U.S. in approximately 36 hours, depending on the actual speed of the jet.
The prevailing jet stream winds are blowing from Japan directly across the Pacific ocean to the west coast of the United States. Any airborne radiation would make its way across with the jet stream, reaching the U.S. in approximately 36 hours, depending on the actual speed of the jet.
Update:
BBC News Asia-Pacific is now reporting that radiation levels inside the nuclear reactor are 1,000 times of normal, and there are now high levels (unspecified) ‘outside’ of the nuclear reactor plant. They report that people are being evacuated in an approximate 6-mile perimeter.
BBC News Asia-Pacific is now reporting that radiation levels inside the nuclear reactor are 1,000 times of normal, and there are now high levels (unspecified) ‘outside’ of the nuclear reactor plant. They report that people are being evacuated in an approximate 6-mile perimeter.
JAPAN NOW HAS A WORLD EMERGENCY: CONFIRMED ! Japan NUCLEAR MELTDOWN – RADIOACTIVE STEAM ON VIDEO – 3/11/11
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