Japan Ocean Currents Would Steer Dumped Radioactive Water
By Jim Andrews, Senior Meteorologist
Apr 4, 2011; 4:25 PM ET
The release of water would take place at the site, location on the northeast coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan.
Reports said that a device known as an "underwater silt fence" set up outside a drainage outlet near the Number 2 reactor would be used in an attempt to limit environment impact.
The damaged Number 2 reactor has already been leaking toxic water, though the exact source and path of the leak has not been found.
The silt fence was described as hanging from a float. Ideally, it would reach the floor of the ocean. Reports said it would not fully prevent the flow of contaminated water to the sea itself.
Any radioactive water escaping confinement will be subjected to the pull of ocean currents. Off northeastern Honshu, the foremost current is the southward-flowing Oyashio. This current normally drifts southward to nearly Choshi, on Cape Inubo. Choshi is located about 60 miles east of Tokyo.
Off Cape Inubo, flow of the Oyashio gets shunted eastward by the more powerful Kuroshio, a major current flowing eastward south of Japan, heading for the open Pacific Ocean.
Whatever the consequences stemming from the dumping of the radioactive water, they should be greatest near and immediately down flow of the nuclear plant. The overwhelming volume of ocean water would increasing dilute the contaminated water with distance from the point of release, eventually lowering to radiation levels to those not far from the natural background.
