8.9 earthquake in Japan: tsunami warnings

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    Earthquake Japan
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan, leading to tsunami warnings and significant damage. Participants share live updates, personal reactions, and concerns regarding the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on Japan and surrounding regions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express shock and concern over the scale of the disaster, noting reports of a 10-meter wave hitting Sendai and significant destruction.
  • There are multiple accounts of casualties, with varying numbers reported, including 8 confirmed dead and later reports suggesting hundreds of bodies found in Sendai.
  • Some participants discuss the effectiveness of Japan's tsunami warning systems, comparing it to past tsunamis, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential impact of the tsunami on other regions, including Hawaii and the western coast of the United States, with predictions of wave arrivals and evacuation orders mentioned.
  • Participants share links to live coverage and videos depicting the disaster, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
  • There are discussions about the geological context of the earthquake, including references to the Pacific Ring of Fire and the potential for future seismic events.
  • Some participants mention the status of nuclear power plants in the region, with reports of evacuations and concerns about cooling systems, though there are conflicting reports about radiation leaks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express concern and shock over the events, but there is no consensus on the exact number of casualties or the effectiveness of the response systems. Multiple competing views exist regarding the implications for nuclear safety and future seismic risks.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in information include the evolving nature of casualty reports and the ongoing assessment of damage and safety measures. The discussion reflects a range of personal reactions and interpretations of the events as they unfold.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in current events, disaster response, geological phenomena, and the implications of natural disasters on infrastructure and safety may find this discussion relevant.

  • #661
Mag 7.1 (revised down from 7.4)
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0002ksa.php
Date-Time:
Thursday, April 07, 2011 at 14:32:41 UTC
Thursday, April 07, 2011 at 11:32:41 PM at epicenter

Location: 38.253°N, 141.640°E
Depth: 25.6 km (15.9 miles)

Distances:
66 km (41 miles) E of Sendai, Honshu, Japan
114 km (70 miles) E of Yamagata, Honshu, Japan
116 km (72 miles) ENE of Fukushima, Honshu, Japan
330 km (205 miles) NNE of TOKYO, Japan
 

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Earth sciences news on Phys.org
  • #662
Is there no end to this madness? I say we find a planet without separate tectonic plates and move there.

Any new news on the reactor?
 
  • #663
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp9iJ3pPuL8

http://www.videonews.com/
Fukushima, Japan - The Japanese government has issued the evacuation order on March 12 for the residents living within the 20 kilometer radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Since then, residents have left their homes, and the "no man land" has been out of touch with the rest of the world.

A Japanese journalist, Tetsuo Jimbo, ventured through the evacuation zone last Sunday, and filed the following video report.

He says that, inside the evacuation zone, homes,building, roads and bridges, which were torn down by Tsunami, are left completely untouched, and the herd of cattle and pet dogs, left behind by the owners, wonders around the town while the radiation level remains far beyond legal limits.
 
  • #664
It will be interesting to check health effects of the radiation on these animals. In Czarnobyl exclusion zone animals thrive.
 
  • #665
Japan raises the Fukushima crisis to level 7

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/12/us-japan-idUSTRE72A0SS20110412?pageNumber=1

They say that nothing happened recently, but their initial prediction of the crisis level was not correct.

I find this rather strange. If the radiation levels were that high from the beginning, wouldn't China or other neighboring countries detect them ? It seems to me that the Japanese are exaggerating a bit.
 
  • #666
HossamCFD said:
Japan raises the Fukushima crisis to level 7

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/12/us-japan-idUSTRE72A0SS20110412?pageNumber=1

They say that nothing happened recently, but their initial prediction of the crisis level was not correct.

I find this rather strange. If the radiation levels were that high from the beginning, wouldn't China or other neighboring countries detect them ? It seems to me that the Japanese are exaggerating a bit.
The prevailing winds are blowing most of the radiation out to sea. I doubt that China can even detect as much as is being seen in the US (which isn't much).

[URL]http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-191816-galleryV9-nhjp.gif[/URL]
 
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  • #667
Thanks for the very descriptive animation !
 
  • #668
HossamCFD said:
Thanks for the very descriptive animation !
You're welcome. Note that the animation is only for the first week or so but, the general direction will still tend to be out to sea.
 
  • #669
Abandoned Cattle Near Fukushima

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://youtu.be/eVAorP4J5L4
http://youtu.be/eVAorP4J5L4

Heartbreaking.
 
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  • #670
  • #672
http://www.npu.go.jp/en/policy/policy06/pdf/20121004/121004_en2.pdf

Verified results of national discussions so far held throughout Japan clearly
indicate that, after the experiences of an accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station and in the ensuing sufferings of many local areas and citizens
including those in Fukushima Prefecture, many people are hoping to “build a
society not dependent on nuclear power”. So do those discussions, on the other
hand, also reveal divergences in their views on how early it could realize and even
whether it could possibly be built.

Phasing out nuclear by 2040 :rolleyes:
 
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