Latest maps of spread of radiation plumes in Asia-Pacific - plume onshore this weekend

[jpak]

http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2011/03/fukushima_crisis_latest_maps_o.html

Wind directions in Japan are currently blowing radiation from the troubled Fukushima nuclear power plant eastwards out to the Pacific Ocean (see Figure 1), but a shift in directions Sunday risks sending the radiation plume towards Tokyo (see Figure 2). These models have just been published in a bulletin by Austria's weather service, the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics in Vienna.

On the colour scale, red represents 100 millisieverts per hour (100 mSv/hr), and purple a maximum of 100 nanosieverts per hour (.0001 mSv/hr). For an explanation of the units see "Radiation exposure, beyond the numbers". In terms of dose, an exposure of 100mSv is enough to slightly increase the chances of developing cancer later in life; a dose of 100 nanosieverts is neglegible.

Figure 1: Plume as of today, and tomorrow.

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the animation indicates the plume will carry high levels of radioactrivity (100 mSv/hr) inland this weekend

[cilla4progress]

1. Very informative

and good visibility at the link. Thanks - bookmarked.