Radiation surges above 4's fuel pool

[Fledermaus]

Radiation has risen to high levels above the spent-fuel pool at reactor No. 4 and its temperature is rising, the nuclear safety agency said Wednesday, indicating the fuel rods have been further damaged and are emitting radioactive substances.

The radiation level 6 meters above the spent-fuel storage pool at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant was measured at 84 millisieverts per hour Tuesday. Normally, it's 0.1 microsievert.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110414a1.html

[buddysmellgood]

1. Here we go. If that crap catches fire, we're in for a world of hurt

[flamingdem]

2. Meanwhile on another thread it should be fine for a worker to test to the water levels

at those "low" rates.. they only need the remote testing for other reasons LOL

sarcasm button

[FBaggins]

3. It likely just means that the water level had fallen.

Thus... they added water to it.


This level is dramatically below what you would expect if you were two meters above a dry pool or one where the water level was just barely above the fuel.

[intaglio]

4. Afraid the fuel pool is intermittant critical

Found on thread TEPCO Confirms Reactor 4 Spent Fuel Pool...

Source http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/04/85295.html">Kyodo News English

Quote

According to TEPCO, radioactive iodine-131 amounting to 220 becquerels per cubic centimeter, cesium-134 of 88 becquerels and cesium-137 of 93 becquerels were detected in the pool water. Those substances are generated by nuclear fission.

[FBaggins]

5. It isn't.

It would be close to impossible for that to happen.

Those substances are generated by nuclear fission.

That's correct. They were generated by nuclear fission a few months ago.

Not yesterday.

[SpoonFed]

6. any bets?

Anyone willing to lay some bets on how long until mr bags will have to eat his words and retract this latest round of declaratives on the DU version of the TV game show "why that's impossible!"?

[CJvR]

7. How?

How is this nuclear reaction supposed to have started? Indeed how can it start even under ideal conditions?