Abstract: The 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident was triggered by a tsunami following the most powerful deep-sea earthquake seen in Japan since the end of the nineteenth century. While the reactors suffered no structural damage, the tsunami inundated the diesel generators providing the power needed for the removal of decay heat. This led to overheating and melting of the fuel rods. The accumulated hydrogen in Units 1 and 2 caused an explosion releasing radioactivity. We will discuss the sequence of events following the accident and the measures taken to contain the damages.
We will also discuss the responses of various countries to the Fukushima accident with specific reference to their own nuclear programs. While the initial responses were centered around safety, there is an increasing recognition of the inevitable role of nuclear technology to provide stable power in our efforts to combat the challenge of global warming and the associated long term climate change.
About the speaker: Prof VS Ramamurthy is the former Director of NIAS and is currently its Emeritus Professor.
Dr. D. K. Srivastava, FNA, FNASc is an INSA Senior Scientist, Honorary Visiting Professor, and a former Homi Bhabha Chair Professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies.