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Scaggs
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:37 am Post subject: Fallout? |
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So all the coverage here in the states is focused on the political climate. Has the Korean coveraged discussed radiation contaiment and those health kind of concerns? If so, what's the word? I am no expert on the physics of radiation. Does there seem to be any noticable concern about the situation in that sense?
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W.T.Carl
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Probably not a problem. Since it was underground, it will be pretty well contained (hopefully). |
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jinglejangle

Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Location: Far far far away.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Underground testing refers to nuclear tests which are conducted under the surface of the earth, at varying depths. Underground nuclear testing made up the majority of nuclear tests by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, on account of other forms of nuclear testing being banned by the Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963. When the explosion is fully contained, underground nuclear testing emits a negligible amount of fallout. Some underground nuclear tests have been able to "vent" to the surface, producing considerable amounts of radioactive debris as a consequence. Underground testing can result in seismic activity depending on the yield of the nuclear device, and generally result in the creation of subsidence craters. In 1976, the United States and the USSR agreed to limit the maximum yield of underground tests to 150 kt. |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_testing |
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Scaggs
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Jingle.
EDIT: and Carl |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, a military helicopter began flying around town up in the clouds yesterday as it started to look like it would rain. It seemed to me like it was flying pretty high by the sound of it. My guess is that they were looking for any traces of radiation in the clouds. I guess there was none, or little, because the police did not inform the townfolks to stay indoors. |
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Junior

Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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Over half of all underground tests have resulted in Radiation leakage to the surface, despite being contained. Of those, half again have included detection over 1000km from the site.
They should be able to detect it almost immediately, although the results won't be in for a day or so yet. And may not even be made public. |
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Big_Bird

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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If the area does become contaminated, it will contaminate the food chain and water table for some time. I was living in England when the Chenobyl incident occurred...and it was a nightmare for farmers.
I've been opposed to any kind of nuclear facility since, whether it be for peaceful purposes or otherwise. |
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Lizzie
Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject: Contamination |
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| Of course there will be some contamination because an underground test will affect the ground water in the area of the explosion. How much contamination will depend on how far that water flows from the area of the explosion and how much of it is leeched into the soil. This is unavoidable-however, if any of this water is exposed to the air radiation particles will be absorbed there and may result in contamination in the rain. The groundwater may also affect the ocean. It is very difficult to say how far reaching the effects of this blast can be when we know so little-was it a uranium blast or a plutonium blast? How big was the bomb really? Was it really contained with no leakage? Personally, from my studies in university, I don't believe any nuclear explosion is 100% contained-that s*** has to go somewhere. We do not know enough about the bomb or the circumstances under which it was detonated to know any definitive answers and chances are we will never know because we can't get in there to find out-all answers to the question of safety can only be speculative. |
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Junior

Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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if the US and france couldn't make a completely contained blast after many attempts, I doubt North korea could.
When you look at published data confirming radiation 1500km from the test site, at several times higher the normal average..you have to remember that is only what the govt allowed people to know.
I understand the cancers, leukaemia and mutations in Turkistan are pretty horific after the Chinese conducted testing there- back in the 60's. |
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Manner of Speaking

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Contamination |
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| Lizzie wrote: |
| Of course there will be some contamination because an underground test will affect the ground water in the area of the explosion. How much contamination will depend on how far that water flows from the area of the explosion and how much of it is leeched into the soil. This is unavoidable-however, if any of this water is exposed to the air radiation particles will be absorbed there and may result in contamination in the rain. The groundwater may also affect the ocean. It is very difficult to say how far reaching the effects of this blast can be when we know so little-was it a uranium blast or a plutonium blast? How big was the bomb really? Was it really contained with no leakage? Personally, from my studies in university, I don't believe any nuclear explosion is 100% contained-that s*** has to go somewhere. We do not know enough about the bomb or the circumstances under which it was detonated to know any definitive answers and chances are we will never know because we can't get in there to find out-all answers to the question of safety can only be speculative. |
It's strange that there haven't been ANY reports of abnormal levels of radiation or radionuclides. The US is still "trying to confirm that a test took place", and what they are probably trying to confirm is the presence of any fallout or fission products, and what kind of fission products. If none are detected...theoretically it leaves open the possibility that the test was 'staged', using conventional explosives. |
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Junior

Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:46 am Post subject: Re: Contamination |
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[quote="Manner of Speaking"]
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| It's strange that there haven't been ANY reports of abnormal levels of radiation or radionuclides. |
An american plane capable of detecting radiation took off right after the test. The results will be in shortly.
radiation escaping from underground takes time to show up.
of course an above ground incident would have been verified very quickly..eg chernobyl.
This is a bit more tricky.
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| theoretically it leaves open the possibility that the test was 'staged', using conventional explosives. |
true..but even if so, the claim of a test is akin to an actual test where world security is concerned.
Japan to check radiation levels
09/10/2006 16:14 - (SA)
Tokyo - Japan's military is to deploy several jets to collect air samples for checks on radiation levels following North Korea's announcement that it had conducted a nuclear test, the defence agency said on Monday.
The air force would fly its T-4s from three bases to gather data for analysis starting on Monday evening, the agency said.
The Japanese military regularly checks air radiation levels, but this would be only the second deployment in response to a particular incident, Kyodo news agency said.
Earlier on Monday, a government official said Japan had detected no abnormalities at its radiation monitors.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2010297,00.html
Demand in radiation meters increases in Vladivostok after N. Korea test
Vladivostok. Oct 10 (Interfax) -
Demand in radiation meters increased in Vladivostok after North Korea performed an underground nuclear test.
"People want to know how much they were exposed to radiation during the day, and how high the radiation levels are now," Skogorev said.
The current radiation does not exceed normal levels, he said.
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11601877 |
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