Source: Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Overview

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – California is closely monitoring efforts to contain leaks from a quake-damaged Japanese nuclear plant, a spokesman said Saturday, as experts said radiation could be blown out across the Pacific.

While officials downplayed any immediate danger, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission deployed two experts to Japan, where the Fukushima plant, which was rocked by a large explosion earlier in the day in the aftermath of Japan's strongest-ever earthquake.

"At present there is no danger to California. However we are monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with our federal partners," Michael Sicilia, spokesman for California Department of Public Health, told AFP.

"California does have radioactivity monitoring systems in place for air, water and the food supply and can enhance that monitoring if a danger exists," he added.

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Mar 14, 2011 – 6:39 AM

Between radiation concerns, displaced persons and the cleanup and rebuilding process, Japan's weather will be of greater concern for some time to come.

And with the current La Nina expected to continue at least through spring, the weather in Japan might be cooler and wetter than average.

A La Nina -- a cooling of sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific -- influences weather patterns across the globe. One common effect is an increase in the intensity of storm systems in the northern branch of the jet stream. This effect is most pronounced during winter, but with a well-defined La Nina -- such as the current one -- northern storms tend to continue well into spring. During a La Nina winter, Japan is typically cooler than average.

With the northern part of the island being the hardest hit by the earthquake -- the epicenter of the quake was a latitude similar to Washington, D.C.'s -- these regions might experience more frequent, chilly storm systems.

Monday, March 14th 2011, 9:36 AM

A second hydrogen explosion rocked a crippled Japanese nuclear reactor Monday, spewing a giant cloud of smoke into the air and injuring 11 workers, officials said.

The blast was so large it could be felt 25 miles away.

The plant's operator, however, insisted that radiation levels around the facility remained within legal limits.

A similar explosion was triggered Saturday at the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactor after cooling systems were damaged by Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

Officials said a separate damaged reactor at the facility was also experiencing severe problems after its fuel rods became fully exposed, raising the risk of overheating and yet another explosion.

A state of emergency has been declared at six reactors where cooling systems and backup generators failed following Friday's twin disasters.

Friday's earthquake has seen Japan's share market record its biggest one day loss since the middle of the global financial crisis.

The Nikkei slumped more than 6 per cent, despite the Bank of Japan pumping a record $US181 billion into the nation's financial system.

Shares in Tokyo Electric went untraded. There were plenty of sellers, but no buyers for the company that owns a nuclear reactor which is in danger of a meltdown.

Other blue chip companies such as Toyota and Sony also slid heavily, due to the disruption caused to production by the earthquake, tsunami and associated power cuts.

The Australian share market fell in empathy, but recovered from earlier losses of more than 1 per cent to finish only 0.5 cent down.

The All Ordinaries lost 25 points to 4,710, while the ASX 200 lost 18 points to 4,626.

The hardest hit sector was uranium miners on fears the reactor problems in Japan will lead to a shift away from nuclear power.

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CNN