Could Japan's meltdown affect the planet?
- Thread starter DudeistBelieve
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Pretty much this. My understanding is that at chernobyl the reactor itself exploded while generating power, then the core went supercritical and exploded, ejecting fuel and parts of the reactor core outside the building. What was left proceeded to melt, catch on fire and sink, all at the same time. Creating a worse situation with a modern reactor could probably only be accomplished with a great deal of effort.Sieg The Bum said:
The situation in fukoshima isn't great but so far it's several orders of magnitude less severe than chernobyl, which itself didn't really cause a huge environmental impact. Some forests died right next to the reactor, but environmentally the exclusion zone is doing pretty okay. There are still some people living there who refused to evacuate 25 years ago.
In short, NO. Did Chernobyl? No. Radiation is localized. If these things could meltdown and effect the whole plant, we wouldn't use them for energy. If like 500 reactors had a meltdown at the same time, yes, but this situation, NO.
Since I know close to nothing about the effects of a nuclear meltdown, I don't know for certain what would happen. Hut from what I've been hearing about the situation now, even if the facility in question DID fail, it doesn't look like it'll effect much outside the immediate area. But hell what do I know?
If you're living very close to the reactors then you might have some issues. Seeing that you're reading this site, I'm guessing that you'll be fine. The radiation isn't going to be bad for anyone outside of Japan, and that's assuming that the reactors go at all.
It amuses me that there's a massive push for KI tablets in the US, like it's going to make a difference.
It amuses me that there's a massive push for KI tablets in the US, like it's going to make a difference.
As in damage the environment? not a great deal. Will it be used as more ammunition for those who hate nuclear power? Very much so, and probably regardless of the facts.
This!Drunkenclam said:
But nevertheless, I am going to enjoy the hoards of Escapist members who act like they have a degree in nuclear physics that will undoubtedly come into this thread!
But yeah, I don't know a thing about how nuclear power works. Really, I don't know anything about it.
Yes, it will affect the environment. The political fallout will mean fewer reactors get built in the foreseeable future, and the power generation slack will be taken up by constructing more highly-damaging coal and hydroelectric plants. This will even (slightly) raise background radiation levels around the world since a functioning coal power plant releases much more radiation into the environment than a nuke plant does, due to the tiny traces of uranium and thorium found in coal and released as it burns.
It is highly unlikely that a nuclear meltdown will have an effect on the world
The radiation is only dangerous to those who are local. In the event of a nuclear explosion (which is possible, but unlikely), radioactive metal will be blasted into the air, but not high enough to effect places beyond the current 20/30km variety
I am returning to Japan tomorrow so I have been keeping an eye on this
Nothing like a nuclear fallout to get my flight cancelled.
The radiation is only dangerous to those who are local. In the event of a nuclear explosion (which is possible, but unlikely), radioactive metal will be blasted into the air, but not high enough to effect places beyond the current 20/30km variety
I am returning to Japan tomorrow so I have been keeping an eye on this
Nothing like a nuclear fallout to get my flight cancelled.
Only reason why I ask is I know absolutely nothing about Nuclear Power plants, aside from they're energy is cleaner, my knowledge is more or less limited to Nuclear Weapons.
John McCain really just dodged a bullet. Can you imagine the backlash he'd be getting if he was elected? What with his push for nuclear energy and what not.
Im a little more at ease now, thank you.
John McCain really just dodged a bullet. Can you imagine the backlash he'd be getting if he was elected? What with his push for nuclear energy and what not.
Im a little more at ease now, thank you.
There is truth in what you say. However, everyone here does have access to the internet, the greatest information gathering tool there is. From what I have gathered while using this, the effects of Japan's nuclear problem will have no global environmental effect whatsoever...except everyone starts prefering rather polluting coal power plants, of course.Kortney said:
Have you ever played fallout? It'll be a lot like that.
If you believed that, I'll tell you another...
OT:No, Chernobyl had no safety features and one of the reactors blew, it's still considered the worst nuclear reactor meltdowns in history. People still lived in Chernobyl and the other 3 reactors continued to function. Japan's reactors have safety features, so the radiation should be contained. As for it affecting the world directly, consider this: Governments tested nukes on a daily bases before and dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan. Japan recovered from it, and these weapons release a lot more radiation than the reactors.
But in a worst case scenario their economy will suffer a blow and so import and export will affect the world.
If you believed that, I'll tell you another...
OT:No, Chernobyl had no safety features and one of the reactors blew, it's still considered the worst nuclear reactor meltdowns in history. People still lived in Chernobyl and the other 3 reactors continued to function. Japan's reactors have safety features, so the radiation should be contained. As for it affecting the world directly, consider this: Governments tested nukes on a daily bases before and dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan. Japan recovered from it, and these weapons release a lot more radiation than the reactors.
But in a worst case scenario their economy will suffer a blow and so import and export will affect the world.
The only thing I'm worried about, from a global perspective, is how this will affect water. Think about it. Chernobyl was fairly landlocked, but Japan is right there in ocean currents. Is it possible we could get irradiated ocean systems? Ok, more radiation in the ocean systems, I'm sure my point is clear.
As in my post above yours, Japan got atomic bombs dropped on them and that contains significantly more radiation which made it's way into the water. Also during the cold war, Nukes were tested on islands and such so that got in the water and air as well.Del-Toro said:
Not trying to be an ass and if I came off as one, I apologies.
