If this meltdown continues to get worse and radioactive fallout enters the atmosphere, how far does it travel? Does it get caught up in high altitude winds and become a global problem?
Being regional pilots operating typically at 35000' (25000' CRJ-200), is there any concern here? Does anyone have any info on this?
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If this meltdown continues to get worse and radioactive fallout enters the atmosphere, how far does it travel? Does it get caught up in high altitude winds and become a global problem?
Being regional pilots operating typically at 35000' (25000' CRJ-200), is there any concern here? Does anyone have any info on this?
Does someone else actually know SOMETHING, and have a more scientific response. Your reply suggests that, perhaps it's better that you remain oblivious to situations and don't have any children later in life.
Does someone else actually know SOMETHING, and have a more scientific response. Your reply suggests that, perhaps it's better that you remain oblivious to situations and don't have any children later in life.
I'm certainly no expert, but I think, unless you fly through the steam cloud when they vent the containment vessel, you are exposed to more radiation from the sun, especially at 35,000 feet (repeatedly). I would suspect low altitude traffic would be given a wide berth around the reactors.
Generally speaking, here in the US the risk is going to be very low. Once you get within ~500 miles offshore and downwind is when you want to start thinking about exposure issues.
Remember that the US is about 6000 miles from Japan. Even with upper atmosphere winds, most of the particles will fall into the ocean. Those that do make it this far will likely blend into the background cosmic radiation.
"Initially little was known about the dispersion of nuclear fallout on a global scale. The AEC assumed that fallout would be dispersed evenly across the globe by atmospheric winds and gradually settle to the Earth's surface after weeks, months, and even years as worldwide fallout. Nuclear products were deposited in the Northern Hemisphere becoming "far more dangerous than they had originally been estimated"
This sparked my curiosity, later they talk about fallout from reactors as being particular concern, due to the longer half-life. I do not know much on this, but I do know that we spend alot of time up in that air.
Good article... It makes sense that a power plant will have less effect on upper atmosphere, however
"Health physicist experts agree that the greatest health concerns, affecting the largest number of people far downwind, from a nuclear power plant accident or nuclear bomb explosion(s) anywhere in the world, will likely be from that release of radioiodine that is then carried downwind for hundreds and even thousands of miles. Inhaling radioiodine will be a concern downwind..."
Most of these articles have a perspective from a person standing on the ground downwind. Is it different for us at altitude? (clouds don't always rain)
Good article... It makes sense that a power plant will have less effect on upper atmosphere, however
"Inhaling radioiodine will be a concern downwind..."
Most of these articles have a perspective from a person standing on the ground downwind. Is it different for us at altitude? (clouds don't always rain)
I-131 is a major uranium fission product, I've read that this particular plant is plutonium powered
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