Shit, Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant reactors are old.

[Paradoxical]

And do not have negative temperature coefficients.

[Indydem]

1. Absolutely not true.

Western reactors are NOTHING like Chernobyl.

[Paradoxical]

3. The Fukushima reactors are boiling water reactors.

And from what I have read, they have a positive void coefficient.

[Indydem]

9. They are not the same type of reactors, regardless of thermal coefficient.

Containment domes, regulation, and basic design are all completely different.

Chernobyl was a disaster because the Soviet design was terrible.

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. Well we're gonna find out at some point, eh?

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PA Democrat]

5. 40 plus years old from what I read and now it looks like they will be venting

some radioactive steam attempting to relieve pressure inside the reactor's core.:

Japanese authorities will release a small amount of radioactive vapor into the air to ease pressure.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/fukushima-nuclear-plant-2011-3#ixzz1GJnGcExw

[Paradoxical]

6. The pressures are supposedly reaching dangerous levels.

Water levels within the reactor are falling. But the core is not exposed yet.

If the core becomes exposed, they are in deep shit.

[KT2000]

8. Everyone is in deep

Japan is not so large that there is anywhere to escape.

Someone explained to me that Chernobyl radiation circulated the earth at 45 latitude.
Don't know what determines that but a meltdown in Japan would circulate the earth as well, no?

[Paradoxical]

10. A meltdown does not mean radioactive discharge.

The entire core of a nuclear reactor could melt and still pose little threat to things outside of the containment vessel.

There would have to be a very specific series of events in order for a reactor core to "explode" and breach the containment building.

[KT2000]

12. OK - thanks

I still requested that my sister-in-law postpone her trip to Shanghai tomorrow. Just too close.

[madokie]

7. Which begs the question of how big is their small

[upi402]

11. anyone have a link to track wind currents in lower atmosphere? n/t