Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Fukushima Daiichi: The Earthquake Question Past and Future


The Asia Times has an interesting article on the role of the massive earthquake 3/11 in producing the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The article explains that the role of the earthquake, versus the relative contribution of the tsunami, has not been fully clarified:


I recommend reading the article and have excerpted this brief snippet of remarks made by Mitsuhiko Tanaka, a former nuclear equipment engineer for Hitachi, concerning the relative impacts of the earthquake versus the tsunami in producing the disaster:
Daniel Hurst (March 8, 2017) The Earthquake Question. Asia Times, http://www.atimes.com/article/unanswered-questions-fukushima-nuclear-disaster/

The impact of the quake is “still actually a question mark,” Mitsuhiko Tanaka, a former nuclear equipment engineer for Hitachi Ltd., said at a press conference in Tokyo….

“But I’m also saying that the anti-seismic design of the power stations was inadequate and I’m also saying that without the tsunami the same accident possibly would have occurred. So even excluding the tsunami, just the earthquake alone could possibly cause a major rupture. I’m stressing that one should not neglect or ignore the issue of the earthquake.”
The relative impact of the earthquake is being debated because it has significant implications for nuclear power plants everywhere as they may very well be much more susceptible to damage from earthquakes than the models predict.

I was looking for news on Fukushima this morning because the plant has looked so odd over the last few days on the webcams. Here is a screenshot from early this morning:


I was looking for news that might indicate some change has occurred at the plant that would explain the strange looking emissions.

I wasn't able to find any "news" but I did notice an article on the rising coastline in North East Honshu:
Tohoku’s Pacific coast rising after sinking in 2011 quake Kyodo Mar 8, 2017 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/03/08/national/tohokus-pacific-coast-rising-sinking-2011-quake/#.WMAamGfdki8


The coastline by the town of Ishinomaki in Miyagi, just up the coast from Fukushima Daiichi, has experienced a 30 centimeter rise in the coastline. Wow!

There is no specific measurement in the article for Fukushima Daiichi but the closest cities experienced a rise in coastline of 9cm and 14 cm.

What are the implications for the structural foundations of buildings, such as those at Daiichi, from such a change?

Moreover, does this level of geological activity indicate rising probability of another large quake?




 

2 comments:

  1. "The authors have spoken to several workers at the plant who recite the same story: Serious damage to piping and at least one of the reactors before the tsunami hit"
    http://www.thewire.com/global/2011/07/meltdown-what-really-happened-fukushima/39541/

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    Replies
    1. Yes this is what my research revealed: the earthquake damaged pipes and there was a large radiation release BEFORE the tsunami hit.

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