Earthquake and Tsunami hits Japan.

Expanded to 20km.

Tier 3 defense has failed. Let's hope tier 2 (the vessel) may resist. This reactor was built in 1971.
Tullio
____________

Quake moved Japanese coast 8 feet; shifted Earth's axis

(CNN) -- The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis.

"At this point, we know that one GPS station moved (8 feet), and we have seen a map from GSI (Geospatial Information Authority) in Japan showing the pattern of shift over a large area is consistent with about that much shift of the land mass," said Kenneth Hudnut, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Reports from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy estimated the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the planet on its axis by nearly 4 inches (10 centimeters).

There is a book by Italian climber, wood sculptor and writer Mauro Corona which depicts what would happen to our society if we lost any electric power supply. It is titled "La fine del mondo storto" (the end of the wrong world). What is happening in Japan today has reminded me of his book.Corona was born and lives in Erto, one of the mountain villages devastated by the colossal landslide in the artificial lake behind the Vajont dam in 1963. I happened to be there the day after with the rescue teams but could not rescue any of the 2000 victims.
Tullio
____________

We won't know for many more days yet of the true cost of all this, but the UK Daily Express has a front page headline "100,000 feared dead".

We've now got all sorts of theories surfacing on the net about this. It is being said that in 8 days the moon will be closer to earth than it has been for 19 years at 221,000 miles away, and also there is one of the Sun's biggest solar storms for many years.

However, seismologists dismiss these notions.

The japanese are trained to respond to these catastrophes from an early age. They know the earthquakes and tsunamis will come its just when. So they know its best to be prepared. BTW the catastrophe could have been worst. They've created a unique dike and spillway system to handle smaller Tsunamis. If you watch the wave coming ashore you'll see it just crash over the top of one.

I saw pictures of the local airport that was hit. Not 1 plane was left on the ground.

I've not heard anything further about the nuclear plant explosion. THat looked pretty bad.

I also heard about a man in the US getting swept out to sea. Seems he wanted pictures of the wave. He went to the beach and got a free ride. Talk about stupid Darwin award candidates.
____________
Proud member of TSWB.

End terrorism by building a school

They have extended the evacuation area around one of the plants to 12 miles, they are using sea water to try and cool the core.... This does not sound good.


____________

Janice

"More than 900 people were killed and about 700 were missing, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. The number of dead is expected to rise as rescuers reach more hard-hit areas.

In the town of Minamisanriku, 9,500 people are unaccounted for, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported, citing local officials. That figure is more than half the population of the town, which is located on the Pacific, the news agency said.

More than 3,000 people had been rescued, according to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Kyodo News Agency said.

"


____________

Janice

I am proud to report that the Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, in tournee in Japan, has decided to stay there and give all planned concerts.
Tullio
____________

They are passing out iodine tablets in Japan. The idea being this substance passes quickly through the body and takes a lot of radiation out with it.

Side note: The Japanese have another substance high in iodine and readily available called "Miso". This is largely attributed to having helped so many
survive nuclear radiation in the past. It is a fermented soy based paste,
and tablespoon or two makes a really interesting soup.


____________

Janice

Iodine is given to saturate the thyroid so it won't absorb radioactive iodine. If given tho children in form of sweets it can save their life.
Tullio
____________

When we were kids my mother would put iodine on our cuts and scrapes. We called it "red stuff". The sting from it was so terrifying to us that we would try to hide our little accidents from her.
I think I like the idea of radiation protection in the form of soup.
celttooth
____________

They are passing out iodine tablets in Japan. The idea being this substance passes quickly through the body and takes a lot of radiation out with it.

Side note: The Japanese have another substance high in iodine and readily available called "Miso". This is largely attributed to having helped so many
survive nuclear radiation in the past. It is a fermented soy based paste,
and tablespoon or two makes a really interesting soup.

Very common in Japanese restraunts.
Typical recipes include tofu, flaked bonito, green onion

Tasty. A bit heavy in MSG but I doubt that is a major concern right now.
____________

Janice