Saturday, May 28, 2016

Fukushima Steamy Still


I noted May 17 (2016) that Fukushima has been extra "steamy" looking since the recent earthquake near Tokai. I wasn't able to check the cams Wed and Thur, but I returned from my conference on Friday to find that heavy looking emissions continue.

Additionally, Netc is showing elevated radiation readings in Kyushu.







I wonder whether the ice wall has failed?

I saw this article in the Asahi Shimbun that points to problems:
Kohei Tomida. May 26, 2016. 10% of TEPCO’s frozen soil wall at Fukushima site not working. The Asahi Shimbun, http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605260056.html

The solid frozen soil wall that Tokyo Electric Power Co. is trying to create at its stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is falling short of expectations.

TEPCO said May 25 its attempt to freeze the soil around the crippled reactors to decrease contaminated groundwater has hit an unexpected glitch.

The utility said it has been unable to freeze the soil at about 10 percent of points it surveyed even though more than one-and-a-half months have passed since the program started.

This is due to the fact that soil temperatures have failed to drop sufficiently. In places where the temperature remains especially high, there is a possibility the soil will never freeze.


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