I should probably start off this post with a bit of a health warning, as it is based on historical data (ERA analysis), ie a series of past March conditions rather than current/forecast winds. But Ignacio Pisso, who works in the Atmospheric Geochemical Cycle Research Team of our institute (undergoing a website reorganisation, sorry) and blogs here, has produced some pretty pictures which should give some indication of the way things might tend to go.
First, some pictures of the typical 24h trajectories, these are three consecutive March data sets, 2007, 8 and 9 (actually a chunk of 20 days in each case, judging from the titles on two plots):
And also a plot of impacts, which he describes as a histogram of particles from the March 2007 hindcast, taking into account residence time:
I think the message is that the vast majority of whatever release may occur, is very likely to end up not going far and predominantly out to sea anyway. Tokyo is not marked on the map (and the coastline is rather approximate) but it is basically at the top of the first sharp inlet at around (140E, 35N) as you head south and then west round the coast, with Kamakura bit further away to the SW. Perhaps Ignacio will be able to answer further questions - this is very much more his field of research than mine!
First, some pictures of the typical 24h trajectories, these are three consecutive March data sets, 2007, 8 and 9 (actually a chunk of 20 days in each case, judging from the titles on two plots):
And also a plot of impacts, which he describes as a histogram of particles from the March 2007 hindcast, taking into account residence time:
I think the message is that the vast majority of whatever release may occur, is very likely to end up not going far and predominantly out to sea anyway. Tokyo is not marked on the map (and the coastline is rather approximate) but it is basically at the top of the first sharp inlet at around (140E, 35N) as you head south and then west round the coast, with Kamakura bit further away to the SW. Perhaps Ignacio will be able to answer further questions - this is very much more his field of research than mine!
3 comments:
The question came up about comparing this to Chernobyl and TMI. That was pretty much Eli's POV, with the caveat that there is a lot of local deposition near the plant (1-2 km??)
People in the US, even Hawaii are not in any danger, but some think they are.
Thank you for that very timely information. I happen to agree with Eli, well, on this subject anyway.
I agree with Eli, US and Hawaii should not be in any danger, however I would not underestimate Fukushima. Especially, the long term influences should be taken into consideration.
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