Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 1910

@Lurking thanks. @Peter, how long would you suggest doing the measurement?
by bo 7/13/2011 2:52:19 AM

@Lurking : radiation is spreading ...
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:55:02 AM

@bo, You need at least 400 counts background NOT included. I would go for ten minutes. If the count rate was high enough, like in the thousands per minute, you can do with less.

by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 2:55:13 AM

@Edano, as a west coast resident I would say that is a given. The real question is how much and what are the long term affects? I worry about bioaccumulation myself. I am in Southern Oregon (30 miles above the California border). I always loved my garden, now I look at it with a stink eye!
by Lurking 7/13/2011 2:57:27 AM

@Lurking , there must have been something in your recycling box. The plastic alone should not do it. Did you try another plastic container?
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 2:57:29 AM

@Peter, there was also grass clippings, weeds, and leaves from the oak tree. I figure it was from the plant material.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 2:58:14 AM

@Lurking : what, amphetamines ? ;)
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:59:30 AM

@Peter, again, thanks.
by bo 7/13/2011 3:00:43 AM

english.kyodonews.jp

Stray dogs, cats around Fukushima plant to be caught
File photo shows a stray dog wondering on a road in a no-entry zone in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, near the crippled Fukushima Nuclear Power Station on June 25, 2011. The Japanese government has decided to catch all stray dogs and cats without owners in the area, sources familiar with the situation said on July 12, 2011. (Kyodo) english.kyodonews.jp

[tribute to our pet fraction ;)]
by Edano via English.kyodonews.jp 7/13/2011 3:01:21 AM

@Lurking , you could use some dried produce from you garden for checks. Try some mushrooms. Dry and pulverize them and see what gives. Only watch out NOT to contaminate your instrument.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:01:24 AM

@Peter, no mushrooms in my garden. But I may use the giant artichoke plant. It is about 6 feet tall now and the leaves were on before March.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 3:02:34 AM

english.kyodonews.jp

Fukushima high school baseball meet
A man measures the radiation level before the start of the Fukushima prefectural high school baseball tournament at a baseball field in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on July 13, 2011. Radiation levels higher than usual have been observed in many areas since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. (Kyodo) english.kyodonews.jp
by Edano via English.kyodonews.jp 7/13/2011 3:04:15 AM

@bo , and before I forget , IMPORTANT: WEIGH your sample and keep notes, like time of day and temperature. Try to do your test in a place where the temperature does not vary much. Keep the set up out of the direct sunlight.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:04:23 AM

@Lurking , let us know. You may need lots of material. That is why I suggested to dry and pulverize it.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:05:40 AM

@Peter got it. I'm gonna be the #1 student at the Science Fair this year!
by bo 7/13/2011 3:06:18 AM

@edano Great posts! Thanks.
by LM 7/13/2011 3:06:34 AM

@LM : yw :)
by Edano 7/13/2011 3:08:06 AM

@bo , .... and note down the amplification settings on the counter, so that you use the same next time!
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:08:35 AM

@Peter, I will do the experiment again soon. They just collected the recycle bin yesterday. I'll try again this weekend and post the results.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 3:08:40 AM

@Peter, my geiger takes a 70 second reading and gives the result in uSv/hr.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 3:10:51 AM

radiationreadings.tumblr.com This is a group of people that submit readings, mine included, from around the country. It is a small group but we all met over fukushima and just wanted to share our data.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 3:14:17 AM

@Peter ty again. One more question, how long should I take gamma readings of the atmosphere outside? What would be a good time length to measure?
by bo 7/13/2011 3:20:42 AM

@Lurking , no counts? No switch? You can still try. Try multiple readings.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:21:09 AM

@Peter, I do a series of 3 readings then average the results. My geiger is a simple Russian on, a FON, but it does have a digital display.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 3:23:43 AM

@bo , for our food measurement, the background must be read from the exact same location as the sample, not outside.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:23:49 AM

@Lurking , do five.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:24:26 AM

@Peter I mean when I am just doing a reading of the outside levels, not of foods.
by bo 7/13/2011 3:24:36 AM

@Peter, ok. I like the idea of getting the background from the container while empty. I will do that as well.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 3:24:54 AM

@bo , I see. The idea is this: the counts distribute in a Poisson distribution in which the statistical standard count error equals the square root of the counts. At 400, the square root is 20 or 5 percent of the count rate. Three standard errors would give you a significant difference at P=0.01. That is, at 460 you have got a statistically significant increase. Therefore you should attempt to reach these rates.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 3:33:43 AM

@Peter thanks, again! Off now to travel through the horrid Japanese heat. Back on in a bit.
by bo 7/13/2011 3:36:44 AM

@All, thanks for welcoming me over here at your great site. I'm starting to feel at home here.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 4:03:30 AM

Lurking, It took me ages to post, as I knew nothing about nuclear stuff. I felt a bit useless at what I could contribute.There are a bunch of really great people on here who have taught me a lot.
by Jo 7/13/2011 4:09:57 AM

@Jo, I am amazed at the knowledge here.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 4:12:23 AM

Japan Meteorological Agency
Tropical Cyclone Advisory #11
SEVERE TROPICAL STORM MA-ON (T1106)
9:00 AM JST July 13 2011
==========================================

SUBJECT: Category Two Typhoon In Sea Near Minami tori shima

At 0:00 AM UTC, Tropical Storm Ma-On (985 hPa) located at 19.3N 152.9E has 10 minute sustained winds of 50 knots with gusts of 70 knots. The cyclone is reported as moving west at 6 knots

Dvorak Intensity: T3.0

Gale Force Winds
================
250 NM from the center in northeast quadrant
200 NM from the center in southwest quadrant

Forecast and Intensity
========================
24 HRS: 20.4N 148.4E - 70 knots (CAT 3/Strong Typhoon)
48 HRS: 21.7N 144.0E - 80 knots (CAT 3/Strong Typhoon)
72 HRS: 22.8N 139.2E - 90 knots (CAT 4/Very Strong Typhoon)

Additional Information
======================

Severe tropical storm will move at the same speed for the next 72 hours

Severe tropical storm will move west northwest for the next 72 hours

Severe tropical storm will be upgraded to typhoon within 24 hours

Severe tropical storm will develop because cyclone will stay in high sea surface temperature area

Final initial Dvorak number will be T4.5 after 24 hours
by Jo 7/13/2011 4:12:52 AM

@Lurking , they really are very knowledgeable
by Jo 7/13/2011 4:14:03 AM

Right to health denied when United States government hides high levels of Fukushima radiation

In KING 5 TV's report Tuesday on high levels of radiation detected in Northwest rainwater, the United States government is accused of continuing to fail to tell the public about Fukushima dangerous radiation blanketing parts of the United States, a coverup that led grassroots projects and independent reporters to gather and present data for public well-being. University of California Nuclear Engineering Department Forum began asking on Tuesday for people in the Los Angles area to come forward with any dangerous radiation readings that may have been detected after local peaches were highly radioactive.

A call from the University of California Nuclear Engineering Department Forum for public radiation readings in Los Angeles came after a finding on Friday, July 8th, 2011 was reported that two peaches from the popular Santa Monica local market were confirmed to have sustained radiation levels of 81 CPMs, or greater. www.examiner.com
by Deb 7/13/2011 4:15:12 AM

I posted the weather, some of the models are calling for it to hit Japan.But it's really to early to tell.
by Jo 7/13/2011 4:15:22 AM

@Deb Yikes! Do you know if Nuc Berkeley is considering more extensive and frequent testing?
by LM 7/13/2011 4:26:17 AM

@Lurking @Jo Thanks for your great posts.
by LM 7/13/2011 4:31:53 AM

Back folks. In my office in beautiful (rebuilt) downtown Hiroshima
by bo 7/13/2011 4:33:41 AM

@Deb I really appreciate the info. All my produce is locally grown here in CA and it's great to know what things might be good to avoid!
by LM 7/13/2011 4:34:58 AM

Night all!
by LM 7/13/2011 4:35:38 AM

@LM later!
by bo 7/13/2011 4:39:26 AM

Night LM
by Jo 7/13/2011 4:45:23 AM

Edano doesn't rule out prospect of nationalizing nuclear operations

TOKYO, July 13, Kyodo

Top government spokesman Yukio Edano on Wednesday did not rule out the possibility of nationalizing Japan's nuclear power operations in the wake of the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Edano told a news conference that the government will undertake a ''drastic review of the future policy on nuclear power without making any prejudgment'' and decide how to handle such operations based on the findings of a panel investigating the cause of the nuclear accident.

The chief Cabinet secretary made the remarks a day after Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a parliament session he will explore the possibility of nationalizing the country's nuclear power operations. english.kyodonews.jp
by Edano 7/13/2011 5:06:40 AM