OT Earthquake/Nuclear Reactor Meltdown

[Fusilier]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

This will release one hell of a lot of radioactive material into the atmosphere and end up as fallout. It's this which is what all the techs etc are most afraid of - a blast would devastate the local (relatively) area but fallout will reach the world.

Probably not. A lot of heat is required for any radiation to be carried into the atmosphere - and there isn't any or likely to be any in this situation.

If it doesn't get under control, the serious effects will most likely be a very localized problem. This won't be another Chernobyl.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Fusilier

Probably not. A lot of heat is required for any radiation to be carried into the atmosphere - and there isn't any or likely to be any in this situation.

If it doesn't get under control, the serious effects will most likely be a very localized problem. This won't be another Chernobyl.

That is correct. The Chernobyl reactors were a very different design to the Fukushima reactors. The biggest problems with Chernobyl as far as fallout was concerned were that Chernobyl's containment structures were not multi-layered and were pathetic; also Chernobyl used graphite control rods and it was those burning that carried such huge amounts of radioactive fallout into the atmosphere. A full-blown meltdown at Fukushima will heavily irradiate the site but airborne fallout will be much less severe and in any case will probably be blown out over the Pacific.

I'm very concerned about contamination of that coastline however. Much of that sea water they're pouring into the reactors is probably ending up back in the ocean, nastily irradiated.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Targan

Much of that sea water they're pouring into the reactors is probably ending up back in the ocean, nastily irradiated.

That thought had entered my mind as well when I first heard they were using sea water as emergency coolant. Mind you, a little radioactive water introduced into the ocean isn't likely to be a major concern when you think about the probable consequences of not using the water.