PAGASA/PNRI monitoring nuclear plant situation in Japan

Image by DigitalGlobe-Imagery via Flickr

A March 14, 2011 press release by the Department of Science and Technology

The Department of Science and Technology, thru PAGASA and the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), is thoroughly monitoring the situation of the nuclear power plants in northern Japan in relation to the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami events.

The DOST-PAGASA has done several numerical simulations. The numerical model outputs predict the motion of air which may transport radiation from the Japanese nuclear power plant in the event of a nuclear fallout. The computed trajectories of air parcel for the next three days showed that radiation from the nuclear power plant will not affect any part of the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The trajectories as computed at different levels of the atmosphere show that the movements of air parcels are all towards the east of the country going to the Philippine Sea. Similarly, air parcels from the Japanese nuclear power plant are also predicted to move eastward of Japan going to the Pacific Ocean. The levels of the atmosphere where the trajectories are computed are specifically at 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 11 km above the surface. Furthermore, the prevailing winds during this month up to early to mid-May at all levels of the atmosphere over Japan and the Philippines are moving toward the northeast and east. This means that wind trajectories are going towards the Pacific Ocean side.

There is nothing to worry about any immediate effect of radiation in the Philippines at the moment. The DOST-PAGASA, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, will continue monitoring our air system and immediately inform the general public if there is an abrupt change in weather pattern over the region. Should you have any questions, please call our DOST-PAGASA Weather Branch (9264258) for clarifications.