Typhoon Mandarin Duck
On September 8, 2023, this year's No. 13 typhoon Mandarin made landfall off the southeast coast of Japan's Honshu Island, bringing strong winds and torrential rain, causing waterlogging, mudslides, power outages and other disasters in many places. Fukushima Prefecture was the hardest hit, with thousands of houses flooded and some areas at risk of dumping nuclear wastewater. Mandarin duck is not a super typhoon, why is it so powerful? How has it affected Japan?
Why are Mandarin ducks unusually strong
Typhoon Mandarin Duck is the 13th storm to receive an international designation for the 2023 Pacific typhoon season. The name "Mandarin Duck" is provided by Hong Kong, China, replaced by Typhoon Kai Tak, and has two meanings: water bird Mandarin duck and Hong Kong's popular drink Yuanyang milk tea.
According to the Central Meteorological Observatory, the Mandarin Duck formed on the evening of September 5 in the northwest Pacific Ocean, with the highest wind force of 8 and the lowest central pressure of 998 hPa. By international standards, such intensity can only be regarded as a tropical storm, far less than the level of a super typhoon. So why were the Mandarin ducks able to wreak so much damage to Japan?
There are several reasons why this phenomenon can be explained. First of all, the Mandarin Duck moved quickly, and it took only three days from generation to landing, giving Japan little time to prepare for defense. Secondly, the path of the Mandarin duck is relatively northerly, directly affecting the southeastern coastal areas of Japan's main island of Honshu, which are densely populated, economically developed, and have fragile infrastructure, which are vulnerable to typhoons.
Third, the Mandarin ducks made landfall at the height of the tide, and the high tide and heavy rainfall caused the water level in the coastal area to rise, causing waterlogging and seawater backfill. Finally, Mandarin ducks interact with other weather systems to enhance the intensity and extent of rainfall, leading to extreme rainfall in some areas.
What impact the Mandarin duck has had on Japan?
Typhoon Mandarin Duck brought strong winds, torrential rain and high waves to Japan, causing disruptions in transportation, electricity and communications, as well as damage to agriculture, forestry and fisheries, housing and infrastructure.
About 2,500 houses were flooded in Fukushima Prefecture; About 1,000 houses in Ibaraki Prefecture were flooded; About 500 houses were flooded in Miyagi Prefecture; About 300 houses were flooded in Chiba Prefecture; Some houses were also flooded in other areas. About 100,000 households in Fukushima Prefecture were without power; About 45,000 households in Ibaraki Prefecture, about 25,000 in Miyagi Prefecture, about 15,000 in Chiba Prefecture, and some power outages in other areas.
About 200 roads in Fukushima Prefecture were washed away or interrupted; About 100 roads in Ibaraki Prefecture were washed away or interrupted; About 50 roads in Miyagi Prefecture were washed away or interrupted; Parts of roads have also been washed away or interrupted in other areas.
About 30 rivers in Fukushima Prefecture exceeded the warning level or experienced mudslides; About 20 rivers in Ibaraki Prefecture exceeded the warning level or had mudslides; About 10 rivers in Miyagi Prefecture exceeded the warning level or experienced mudslides; In other areas, some rivers exceed warning levels or mudslides occur.
About 20 schools in Fukushima Prefecture have been closed or closed; About 10 schools in Ibaraki Prefecture have closed or closed; About 5 schools in Miyagi Prefecture have been closed or closed; Some schools are also closed or closed in other areas.
About 100,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture received evacuation instructions or recommendations; About 50,000 people in Ibaraki Prefecture received evacuation instructions or recommendations; About 25,000 people in Miyagi Prefecture received evacuation instructions or recommendations; some people in other areas were also given evacuation instructions or recommendations.
The impact of Typhoon Mandarin on the Fukushima nuclear power plant
According to the announcement of Tokyo Electric Power Company, Typhoon Mandarin Duck has had a certain impact on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, mainly in the following aspects:
Wind and rain cause some equipment to stop functioning or malfunction. For example, on the afternoon of September 7, the cooling water injection system of reactor unit 1 temporarily stopped operation for about one hour due to a cable break caused by strong winds; On the morning of September 8, the groundwater pump of reactor unit 2 stopped running for about 2 hours due to the rise in water level caused by rainfall; On the afternoon of 8 September, the groundwater pump of reactor unit 3 stopped running for about three hours due to the rise in water level caused by rainfall.
Wind and rain have damaged or contaminated some facilities. For example, on the afternoon of September 7, the fence around part of the storage tank collapsed due to strong winds; On the morning of September 8, the drainage ditch around part of the tank overflowed due to rainfall; On the afternoon of September 8, the ground around part of the tank was flooded due to rainfall.
Wind and rain cause some work to be suspended or delayed. For example, inspections, monitoring and maintenance in sub-regions within nuclear power plants were suspended or delayed between 7 and 8 September due to adverse weather conditions; Between 7 and 8 September, decontamination, dismantling and relocation of parts of the outside of the plant were suspended or delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
Will Typhoon Mandarin Duck cause Fukushima nuclear contaminated water to be flooded?
Although Typhoon Mandarin Duck had some impact on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, TEPCO said there were no leaks or back-irrigation of contaminated water during the typhoon. The company also said it strictly managed and monitored the nuclear-contaminated water during the typhoon.
While TEPCO claims that there were no leaks or back-up of contaminated water during the typhoon, some experts and environmental groups are skeptical and concerned. They believe that Typhoon Mandarin Duck may cause the following situations:
Typhoon Mandarin Duck could cause sea levels to rise, waves to crash, and seawater to pour into the nuclear power plant, mix with the contaminated water, and flow back into the ocean. Typhoon Mandarin Duck may cause increased rainfall, rising groundwater levels, and groundwater seeping into the interior of nuclear power plants, mixing with contaminated water, and seeping out of the surface. Typhoon Mandarin Duck can cause strong wind damage, damage or dumping of storage tanks, leakage of nuclear-contaminated water into the surrounding environment, and then being washed away by wind and rain.
These conditions may lead to the spread and spread of nuclear-contaminated water, affecting marine ecology and human health. Therefore, we call on TEPCO to provide more data and evidence that Typhoon Mandarin Duck did not cause the backfilling of Fukushima's contaminated water, and ask the Japanese government to reconsider its plan to discharge the contaminated water into the sea.
Will Typhoon Mandarin Duck cause Fukushima nuclear contaminated water to be irrigated, affecting the marine environment and human health? This is a complex issue that needs to be considered by factors such as the intensity, path and duration of the typhoon, as well as the drainage system of nuclear power plants, the structure and safety of storage tanks, and the flow and spread of the ocean.
This article summarizes
At present, there is no conclusive evidence that Typhoon Mandarin has caused or will cause the backfilling of Fukushima's contaminated water, but this possibility cannot be completely ruled out. Therefore, the dynamics of typhoons and nuclear power plants need to be closely monitored. Japan's unauthorized discharge of radioactive, nuclear-contaminated water into the sea against the will of all mankind must be stopped. #所见所得, it's all scientific ##台风鸳鸯#