CNN An 8.8-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan

[Tender Branson]

F**k nuclear energy !

[patrick1]

It is tossing boats around in Santa Cruz.

Apparently it's been reported that the Harbor has been completely destroyed.

There was damage, but it is far from completely destroyed.

I'm going off AP Reports.

Apparently Radiation levels have surged at that power plant.

I just watched videos; 100 boats damaged with 20 sunk, but still more are afloat.

The reactor is at 150% of normal pressure.  Backup coolant pumps have failed as well.

I would've figured with this much warning, they'd try to get as many of the boats out to see until the tsunami was over.

We did an analysis of this tonight. I think they had less than ten minutes between the quake and the tsunami. The computers aren't even capable of generating a real picture of the earthquake before that time.

[Ban my account ffs!]

This from the Watts Up With That Climate Blog of all places:

Fukushima fuel cores are melting at 2000C and dropping onto steel floor. Steel melts at 1500C. Could still be brought under control, but Four other Fukushima nuke reactors are struggling with similar problem. If multiple meltdown begins, it will be uncontrollable.

 http://twitter.com/#!/dicklp

[Ban my account ffs!]

Also there are reports of panic buying at supermarkets and there have been rumors of power cuts after 6pm (though those seem to have been debunked)

[exopolitician]

2011 is just not the year for Japan.

[Beet]

Also there are reports of panic buying at supermarkets and there have been rumors of power cuts after 6pm (though those seem to have been debunked)

Actually the tweet says the supermarkets are full but no panic buying.

[patrick1]

F**k nuclear energy !

Perhaps. You also have to think about all of the industrial chemicals that were/may have been released. The cascading effects on this are real bad.  The US has been putting in place plans for secondary effects in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, but we would be equally and probably more devastated from what happened in Japan today.  If that theorized Mid Atlantic fault ever had something of this magnitude the East coast would be royally f#ed.  A fault also runs through 125 st in Harlem and under the Indian Point Nuclear reactor just north of here.

[Ban my account ffs!]

F**k nuclear energy !

Perhaps. You also have to think about all of the industrial chemicals that were/may have been released. The cascading effects on this are real bad.  The US has been putting in place plans for secondary effects in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, but we would be equally and probably more devastated from what happened in Japan today.  If that theorized Mid Atlantic fault ever had something of this magnitude the East coast would be royally f#ed.  A fault also runs through 125 st in Harlem and under the Indian Point Nuclear reactor just north of here.

Here's a map of the hazard of earthquakes in the U.S.


Memphis is a disaster waiting to happen.

[Beet]

Well hopefully what happened in Japan will be studied extensively and existing plants in earthquake prone areas will be upgraded in power systems to prevent this particular type of problem from re-occurring.

[minionofmidas]

Japanese nuclear power stations already have what's sometimes claimed to be the world's highest safety standards. It's not as if the Japanese never noticed there was something inherently problematic about the world's most earthquake-prone country being also one of the most reliant on nuclear energy. I suppose having to import all of your fossil ressources does that.

[Tender Branson]

What exactly makes the Memphis, TN-area so earthquake-likely ?

[exopolitician]

What exactly makes the Memphis, TN-area so earthquake-likely ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812_New_Madrid_earthquake

[minionofmidas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone

Matchu beat me.

[patrick1]

F**k nuclear energy !

Perhaps. You also have to think about all of the industrial chemicals that were/may have been released. The cascading effects on this are real bad.  The US has been putting in place plans for secondary effects in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, but we would be equally and probably more devastated from what happened in Japan today.  If that theorized Mid Atlantic fault ever had something of this magnitude the East coast would be royally f#ed.  A fault also runs through 125 st in Harlem and under the Indian Point Nuclear reactor just north of here.

Here's a map of the hazard of earthquakes in the U.S.


Memphis is a disaster waiting to happen.

Yep, the New Madrid fault is due for a big one. Hopefully it takes its time and we're all planted by the time that happens. It is still good stewardship to plan for these things and try to have the best land zoning and building codes possible.

[bullmoose88]

http://live.reuters.com/Event/Japan_earthquake2

...TOKYO POWER says temperatures falling back to normal at Reactor #3


Reactor 1 still a clusterfcuk.

[Beet]

Holy shi t, the reactor is blowing...

[Lief 🗽]

Holy shi t, the reactor is blowing...

CNN: "Explosion near nuclear plant"

[Beet]

Holy shi t, the reactor is blowing...

CNN: "Explosion near nuclear plant"

There was shaking, then several explosions, the entire top and wall of the reactor building has collapsed. Several workers are injured. Authorities are now telling people to go inside and shut all windows.

[Lief 🗽]

Holy shi t, the reactor is blowing...

CNN: "Explosion near nuclear plant"

There was shaking, then several explosions, the entire top and wall of the reactor building has collapsed. Several workers are injured. Authorities are now telling people to go inside and shut all windows.

What an awful job that must be.

[Beet]

Holy shi t, the reactor is blowing...

CNN: "Explosion near nuclear plant"

There was shaking, then several explosions, the entire top and wall of the reactor building has collapsed. Several workers are injured. Authorities are now telling people to go inside and shut all windows.

What an awful job that must be.

Radiation levels almost 10,000 times normal have now been detected at the plant.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

My friend in Tokyo just told me believes one or two of her friends in Sendai have died.

[patrick1]

Holy shi t, the reactor is blowing...

CNN: "Explosion near nuclear plant"

There was shaking, then several explosions, the entire top and wall of the reactor building has collapsed. Several workers are injured. Authorities are now telling people to go inside and shut all windows.

What an awful job that must be.

Radiation levels almost 10,000 times normal have now been detected at the plant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvC4WQrQwTs&feature=youtu.be
:44 second mark for slo-mo of explosion at nuclear site

[exopolitician]

My friend in Tokyo just told me believes one or two of her friends in Sendai have died.

How terrible, my condolences.

[Franzl]

F**k nuclear energy !

I'm sure the Greens will use this here.

[minionofmidas]

Well, it is not (yet?) another Chernobyl. Not entirely clear yet what's happened, of course, but it looks pretty bad.