Reply #39: some corrections

[reorg]

>>1) This report is based on two (day's?) reading in the US & one in Japan.<<
>>2) Based on those readings, the authors make further *estimations* about how much iodine & cesium is being emitted at the source on those days.<<
>>3) They estimate the "source terms" would be about 20% of chernobyl (for iodine) & 20-60% (for cesium.<<

ad 1) This report is based on numerous readings, data received from CTBTO stations in Japan, California, Alaska und Russia, starting on 12 March over several days (more than three).

ad 2) Since data from Japan and elsewhere can be compared, it is possible, they say, especially for the three days between March 12 and 15, to make rough estimates about source terms.

ad 3) These source terms, ie the estimated amount of radiation released during these three days, the report says, already constitute about 20% (iodine-131) and 20-60% (cesium-137) of the entire amount released during the Chernobyl catastrophe.

Since the estimates only take into account readings of iodine-131 and cesium-137, they don't mean that local radiation levels in Japan are the same as in Chernobyl. They only explain the contamination found in foodstuffs. However, the observed contamination levels in foodstuffs are much higher than the rough estimates of the "source terms" would suggest.

http://www.zamg.ac.at/aktuell/index.php?seite=1&artikel=ZAMG_2011-03-24GMT11:24
http://www.zamg.ac.at/aktuell/index.php?seite=1&artikel=ZAMG_2011-03-23GMT10:57
http://www.zamg.ac.at/aktuell/index.php?seite=1&artikel=ZAMG_2011-03-22GMT13:31