The Great East Japan Earthquake (Tohoku Quake), which led to the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, was the biggest ever measured in Japan, and the fourth biggest ever measured on Earth.
At over 9.0 on the richter scale, it was strong enough to move Japan’s main island of Honshu eight feet to the East, and knocked the Earth about eight inches off its axis.
The tsunami was 133 feet high.
Nuclear reactors all along the East Coast of Japan shut themselves down safely, as designed. At the Fukushima site however (closest to the epicenter), the massive tsunami came over the tall cliff, and flooded the site - choking off the diesel generators that provided backup electricity to the coolant pumps. Reactors overheated, coolant boiled off, and hydrogen gas buildup exploded, breaching containment.
Although over 15,000 were confirmed killed in the total disaster (most by the tsunami), none died from acute radiation sickness. Six of the workers at the plant exceeded the total lifetime radiation dosage, but all survive six years later.
Hard to imagine horrific losses like that happening here, felt bad for the Japanese nation. But it could happen in the NorthWest USA, in the Cascadia Subduction Zone (from northern Vancouver Island into Northern California). If that rips with a mega-earthquake, there will be many thousands dead from the resultant tsunami along our West Coast. We shouldn't worry about our nuclear power plants, however, shutdown procedures will prevent problems.
“Nuclear reactors all along the East Coast of Japan shut themselves down safely, as designed. At the Fukushima site however (closest to the epicenter), the massive tsunami came over the tall cliff, and flooded the site - choking off the diesel generators that provided backup electricity to the coolant pumps. ”
All good up to this point. The diesel tanks set to provide fuel for the generators were outside the barrier wall. A major screw up on the part of the manufacturer. The design was robust, and included the tanks to be protected. Someone screwed up and mounted the tanks outside the wall.
As a former Nuclear plant operator at the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan, I say “well said” to your post.
Which one? From 1899? Nothing like a good drink.
Earth's figure axis should not be confused with its north-south axis ... This shift in Earth's figure axis will cause Earth to wobble a bit differently as it rotates, but it will not cause a shift of Earth's axis in space—only external forces such as the gravitational attraction of the sun, moon and planets can do that. nasa.gov
Youtube simulation of the quake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSBjEvPH2j4
The big one hits about 1:50 into the vid...
thanks