Hawaiʻi Radioactivity after Fukushima - Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System
Original (non-English) name
Acronym
Hawaiʻi Radioactivity after Fukushima - PacIOOS
Citation
Kamenik, J., H. Dulaiova, K. O. Buesseler, S. M. Pike, and K. Stastna. 2013. Cesium-134 and 137 activities in the central North Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. Biogeosciences 10: 5223–5244. doi:10.5194/bgd-10-5223-2013.
Abstract
The Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011, led to power failures that prevented the proper cooling of several reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Several reactor units and their containments were damaged by hydrogen explosions, which allowed radioactive gases to escape into the atmosphere. Three reactors experienced partial core meltdown. To suppress further overheating they were cooled by sea water, which then drained into the ocean carrying radioactivity with it. There were several subsequent leaks of highly radioactive water into the ocean. This was the largest accidental release of radioactivity into the ocean ever. The radioactive isotopes, or radionuclides, that escaped in the highest amounts were iodine-131 (I-131), cesium-137 (Cs-137), and cesium-134 (Cs-134).