So, "the plume" can travel thousands of miles across the ocean

[DeeJay]

but it stops when it gets to California? :shrug:

There's no place to go if a "plume" reaches our shores.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

1. especially when the plume will continue for months

until they are able to achieve containment.

If they are able to get close enough to build a sarcophagus, that is.

[meow mix]

2. and still the nukers ridicule minor preparation

the care about bad press and that is all.

[TheWraith]

10. People with science knowledge ridicule hysteria.

Because we know that being worried about a "radioactive cloud" in the US is about as ridiculous as being terrified that you're inhaling pollution from Chinese factories. I just saw (and debunked) someone in another thread claiming that the level of radiation in Japan will kill everyone within 20 miles of the plant in 6 months. In actuality, it's not enough to give even the slightest symptoms of sickness. That's the level of pseudoscientific nonsense that's going around.

There is no health threat to the US. Period.

[meow mix]

13. lol, arrogant enough? im just going to put you on ignore.

you know enough to have a disgusting personality as well.

[daleo]

3. The mountains may provide some barrier effect

Rising air tends to cause rainfall, so some particulates could get washed out. But that would only be a partial effect, and it would depend on a lot of variables - plume altitude, etc.

Nobody seems to talk about Washington, Oregon or British Columbia.

[DeeJay]

11. Good point about the mountains

And I didn't mean to leave you guys out. I should have said West Coast.

[bobbolink]

12. Or Alaska.

Didn't I hear something about the Aleutians?

[CLANG]

4. The plumes wouldn't dare cross into JESUSLAND!

This is the greatest country in the world! How dare they!:sarcasm:

[taught_me_patience]

5. It's highly doubtful the plume will travel that far

It needs to reach the jetstream. The Chernobyl plume didn't even reach the jetstream, and that explosion was much worse. Flames at Chernoby shot hundred of meters into the air.

[bananas]

7. No, the plume will start arriving today at California.

and it looks like it will get even worse.
edit to add link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=141x39649

[EOTE]

14. From the link you provided:

"Health and nuclear experts emphasize that radiation in the plume will be diluted as it travels and, at worst, would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States, even if hints of it are ultimately detectable."

[Cleita]

6. It doesn't stop. It just keeps going as long as the wind

moves it along. I suppose the worst dose of radiation though will drop on the West Coast. Lucky us.

[yawnmaster]

8. Traveling those thousands of miles will result in a huge dilution and the thinking is...

not that it won't reach California, but by the time it travels the distance the effects will be negligible.

[StarryNite]

9. Now everybody just calm down and take a deep breath.

On second thought, maybe we should only be taking shallow breaths. :shrug: Or no breaths? Aww f*ck it!

[OHdem10]

15. There is no plume.

[Parker CA]

16. Thank you. CNN was reporting this all day yesterday. The plume doesn't exist. nt

[GliderGuider]

17. It's already arrived!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42149170/ns/us_news-environment/

Of course an official with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization is saying that the levels are billionth of what it would take to be hazardous, and others are saying that the readings could even be coming from local nukes.

Happy Panicday, everyone. Take two deep breaths and call me in the morning.