The Chernobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants came into focus during the Ukraine war. An interactive map now shows how the wind could spread possible radiation.
Munich – What initially sounds like scaremongering is of immense value, especially for institutions such as civil protection. An interactive map shows how hazardous substances can be spread by the wind – including a forecast for several days.
Chernobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants: Interactive map to clarify
This is extremely important against the background of the current problems in Ukraine with the Chernobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants (more news from the world department at merkur.de).
Daniel Rued from kachelmannwetter.com shared the interactive map on March 8th. In detail, these are so-called trajectories. These describe the displacement of an air parcel through the atmosphere. To put it more simply, such maps can be used to predict the concentration of pollutants in the air in the event of forest fires, volcanic eruptions or, of course, radioactive accidents.
The team of kachelmannwetter.com has already prepared a total of five maps. These are the nuclear power plants of southern Ukraine, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and also Chernobyl and Zaporizhia.
Chernobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants: where would dangerous radiation blow?
What to see Around the starting point (example in the photo: Zaporizhschja) there are different lines, these symbolize the trajectories at different heights (given in meters).
Put simply: If you are in Munich, for example, and these lines also touch the city, then you are within range. In the event of an escape of radioactive radiation or other hazardous substances from this starting point, pollutants would blow in this direction.
Such maps could also help the authorities to correctly assess the situation in the event of major fires with intensive smoke development. Users can also select a location on the map themselves and then see the wind directions and possible effects for other regions.
Interactive map can not only be used for radioactive radiation – also for volcanic eruptions and fires
Janek Zimmer, also a meteorologist kachelmannwetter.com shared a detailed description of how to use this interactive map in a Twitter post.
Currently you can be lucky that this is only a transparent information service on the part kachelmannwetter.com acts. Why the team around weather expert Jörg Kachelmann, who in the past has accused various media of scaremongering about weather issues, is now taking up such a topic has a sad background.
On March 9, several media reported a power outage at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the course of the Ukraine war. Allegedly, Russian troops have cut off the power supply. It is also possible for the power lines to be damaged by bullets. Now you can no longer access the installed monitoring system and warn early in the event of a radiation leak, it is said.
Unclear situation at the Chernobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants: allegations by Ukraine
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on Twitter that there could be a radiation leak at Chernobyl if the power is not restored. Diesel generations would have a capacity of 48 hours.
Again mirror reports, which refers to information from Sven Dokter from the Society for Plant and Reactor Safety (GRS) in Cologne, there is a low risk from Chernobyl. Without cooling, no heat can develop in old fuel elements, which can damage the cladding.
However, the employees on site are definitely in danger. Incidentally, a completely different problem in Chernobyl is the fact that there hasn’t been a shift change like that for two weeks mirror also reported.
Nuclear power plants Chernobyl and Zaporizhia: That says Jörg Kachelmann
The situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is therefore less clear. According to information from the Russian occupiers N TV severely restricted contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko raises serious allegations against the Russian troops. There are indications that Russia is holding the staff hostage. According to a post shared by Halushchenko on Facebook, the employees are physically and mentally exhausted.
Jörg Kachelmann commented on the unclear situation at the nuclear power plants and the currently bubbling fears of the people in a post on Twitter as follows: “So that additional concerns are not caused unnecessarily (error in the tweet. Editor’s note) in terms of Ukraine, you can now see where something is blown, IF something happens. Click on the map (where you suspect something), then use a mouseover to see where what arrives (depending on the initial level of misery).”
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