I am wondering did water go over these reactors, and if they did is that what caused the problems, and if not, what in fact really happened?Could the devastation have been worse if water washed over it?
It probably helped with the overall catastrophe. It wasn't the tsunami, or the earthquake that caused the problems. It was during , and after the shut down procedure of the reactors, they had explosions and loss of power, backup generators, and eventually battery power that there having to deal with. Overheating big-time.
the reactors are right on the shore, the tsunami was right there. and yes it did wash over the plants. that's what caused the backup power to fail ! plus several fuel tanks washed away and water got in almost everywhere, however the containment units remained sealed, at least until the hydrogen steam pressure cracked them ! now the NRC reports there is radiation at deadly levels in the immediate area.japan is downplaying the crisis. and due to unconfirmed plutonium pollution, the area may be uninhabitable for 30,000 years or more ?
The Tsunami washed INTO the Reactors. -Short circuiting the Power supply much of the Instrumentation that runs Them. And THAT's Why the Japanese are struggling with Them NOW -It's almost as if You dropped your iPod into Sea Water- and really Messed it up !! Well, Salt Water Nuclear Reactors don't mix very well- either !! :(
