Study of cloud cover in tropical Pacific reveals future climate changes

Study of cloud cover in tropical Pacific reveals future climate changes
Miami IL (SPX) Nov 06, 2015 - A new analysis using changes in cloud cover over the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean showed that a weakening of a major atmospheric circulation system over the last century is due, in part, to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The findings from researchers at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science provide new evidence that climate change in the tropi ... morehttp://www.terradaily.com/reports/Study_of_cloud_cover_in_tropical_Pacific_reveals_future_climate_changes_999.html

White House Summit on Nuclear Energy

White House Summit on Nuclear Energy

The White House

This event serves as a forum for highlighting the Administration’s commitment to nuclear energy as a clean energy and climate mitigation solution.  It will explore the need for maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear energy to realize economic competitiveness, national security and nonproliferation objectives.  It will also feature innovators who are developing new and advanced nuclear energy systems and showcase the next generation of young scientists and engineers who are working to build the future of nuclear energy.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/white-house-summit-nuclear-energy

Entergy juggling shutdowns at multiple nuclear plants

http://vtdigger.org/2015/11/05/entergy-juggling-shutdowns-at-multiple-nuclear-plants/

Mitsubishi Heavy Steps Closer to Investment in France's Areva

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-06/mitsubishi-heavy-steps-closer-to-investment-in-france-s-areva

Obama’s Green Push Comes At Expense Of Nuclear Power

http://dailycaller.com/2015/11/05/obamas-green-push-comes-at-expense-of-nuclear-power/

ENE News Update 11/06

Former Japan Ambassador: Uncontrolled nuclear chain reactions could be underway at Fukushima — “Troubling indications of recurring criticality” as Tellurium-132 detected over 100 miles from plant — ‘Recriticality’ discussed by Japan’s top nuclear official

Japan Times, Nov 4, 2015 (emphasis added): The former Japanese ambassador to Switzerland, Mitsuhei Murata, recently suggested that Japan should stage an ‘honorable retreat’ from hosting the 2020 Olympics due to the unpredictable situation at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Japan Times (Hotline to Nagatacho — Brian Victoria, Kyoto), Nov 4, 2015: [F]ormer Japanese ambassador to Switzerland, Mitsuhei Murata, recently proposed… for Japan to stage an “honorable retreat” from hosting the 2020 Olympics… [I]n the September issue of Gekkan Nippon, Murata… noted the danger still posed by large numbers of spent fuel rods suspended in spent fuel pools in reactors 1, 2 and 3 [which] can’t be removed from the damaged reactor buildings due to the high levels of radioactivity surrounding these reactors… Murata’s gravest concern is a number of troubling indications of recurring criticality [ i.e. uncontrolled nuclear chain reactions] in one or more of the reactors at Fukushima No. 1. For example, he notes that in December 2014, both radioactive iodine-131 and tellurium-132 were reported as having been detected in Takasaki city, Gunma Prefecture [~130 miles SW of Fukushima Daiichi]. Given the short half-lives of these radioactive particles, their presence could not be the result of the original meltdowns at Fukushima.
Ambassador Murata to Dr. Thomas Bach (President of the International Olympic Committee), Jun 15, 2015: Allow me to send you a letter, motivated by my sense of mission to inform you of the worsening situation in Fukushima, which regrettably is being downplayed by our Government and does not seem to be well known internationally… Contrary to the assurances of the Japanese Government and [TEPCO], the situation at the site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is not at all under control… Not only do we have a continued contamination of the groundwater and the Pacific Ocean… but the brittle structure of the damaged plant represents itself a serious threat, in particular in our earthquake prone region.
Ambassador Murata to Susana Malcorra (United Nations Chef de Cabinet), Aug 27, 2015: I am sending you my fourth message to President Bach of The IOC. I inform him of my message addressed to Prime Minister Abe. In my message… I ask for the first concrete international cooperation concerning the method  of cooling spent fuel rods making use of zinc instead of water. This is crucially important. The Pacific Ocean is more and more contaminated with the daily release of more than 300 tons radioactive groundwater. I remind Prime Minister Abe that the decision to retreat from the Tokyo Olympic Games and carry out an international verification of the suspected re-criticality is urgently needed… My interview article was published in the magazine “Monthly Japan” (September). The article entitled “An honorable retreat from the Tokyo Olympic Games” is given a central place. Reactions are noteworthy and encouraging. Conscientious citizens start questioning the integrity of the IOC. Please convey my warmest greetings to Secretary-General Ban-kimoon.
Interestingly, two weeks ago the head of Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority addressed the recriticality issue:
Fukushima Minpo, Oct 20, 2015: Nuclear regulator chief says Fukushima Daiichi recriticality “physically impossible” — Shunichi Tanaka, chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, visited the Minamisoma city government for talks with Mayor Katsunobu Sakurai on Oct. 22. Regarding Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Tanaka said, “We are no longer in a situation that prevents residents from returning (to their evacuated hometowns). Recriticality is physically impossible.”
See also: MIT professor: “There is a high probability that, if a quake of magnitude 7.9 or above, or some other serious event, strikes Fukushima, a ‘criticality’ will occur… The next criticality may be far more serious”
And: Gov’t Document: Re-criticality a threat at Fukushima

Global energy giant Westinghouse says an Australian nuclear power plant would cost $17.5bn

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/global-energy-giant-westinghouse-says-an-australian-nuclear-power-plant-would-cost-175bn/story-fni6uo1m-1227597902654

ANS Nuclear Cafe Update: Is Radiation Necessary For Life?

Updates from ANS Nuclear Cafe Blog Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Is Radiation Necessary For Life? By ansnuclearcafe on Nov 05, 2015 11:13 am By James Conca It seems so. Recent studies on the biological effects of radiation carried out under radiation levels from natural background to essentially zero radiation, demonstrate that the absence Continue Reading → Read in browser » More to read: Successful Tests May Lead to Faster Creation of New Nuclear Fuels Hanford One Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival 285 ANS Meetings- Career Benefits of Attending Nuclear Technology Makes Deep Space Travel Possible

Reproduction of dolphins hurt by BP oil spill

Dolphins living in a Louisiana bay polluted by BP's massive 2010 offshore oil spill have had a very difficult time giving birth long after their bay was covered in slicks, a new study shows. … Continue Reading http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/11/study-reproduction-of-dolphins-hurt-by-bp-oil-spill.html?cmpid=EnlDailyPetroNovember52015&eid=288118515&bid=1226620

White House Summit on Nuclear Energy

White House Summit on Nuclear Energy Big news for nuclear energy supporters! Tomorrow, the White House is hosting a forum, highlighting the Administration’s commitment to nuclear energy as a clean energy and climate mitigation solution.  It will explore the need for maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear energy to realize economic competitiveness, national security and nonproliferation objectives. It will also feature innovators who are developing new and advanced nuclear energy systems and showcase the next generation of young scientists and engineers who are working to build the future of nuclear energy. "I think what's important about this White House meeting is that, in a sense, it's a 'coming out' meeting. Here we have an administration that is making it clear that nuclear energy is important in the fight against climate change and that some of the new nuclear technologies will be energy sources for the future." -Eileen Claussen, Former Assistant Secretary of State and nuclear energy supporter

Fukushima Update 11/5/15

Fukushima Update 11/5/15 –

The head of Fukushima InFORM received death threats… A non-profit group helping with rural cleanup gets death threats… The seaside impermeable wall is slowing contaminated seepage to the sea… Okuma Town plans to build a small residential area for people to return… Japan’s largest newspaper urges Tokyo to be more pro-active in dealing with fear of radiation… A South Australian nuke blogger was angered by his visit to F. Daiichi.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

US Prepares for Extreme Space Weather

US Prepares for Extreme Space Weather
Washington DC (SPX) Nov 04, 2015 - A severe solar storm could disrupt the nation's power grid for months, potentially leading to widespread blackouts. Resulting damage and disruption for such an event could cost more than $1 trillion, with a full recovery time taking months to years, according to the National Academy of Sciences. Today marks a significant advancement towards improving our nation's preparedness for extreme s ... morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_Nation_Prepares_for_Extreme_Space_Weather_999.html

Satellites shed light on Greenland Ice Sheet response to warming

Satellites shed light on Greenland Ice Sheet response to warming
Edinburgh, UK (SPX) Nov 02, 2015 - Parts of Greenland's ice sheet have been found to be less vulnerable to climate warming than was thought - a discovery that could have a small but beneficial impact on sea level forecasts. Satellite images have revealed that despite dramatic increases in ice melt across Greenland in recent years, the speed of ice movement in some areas has slowed down rather than accelerated. The fin ... morehttp://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Satellites_shed_light_on_Greenland_Ice_Sheet_response_to_warming_999.html

US to pursue Keystone pipeline review

US to pursue Keystone pipeline review
Washington (AFP) Nov 3, 2015 - The United States said Tuesday it would carry on with its review of the controversial cross-border Keystone XL oil pipeline project despite a request from builder TransCanada for a pause in the process. The company said Monday it had asked Secretary of State John Kerry to suspend the review, citing litigation pending in Nebraska, one of the states through which the pipeline would run to brin ... morehttp://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/US_to_pursue_Keystone_pipeline_review_999.html

Saudi says fossil fuels still needed despite global warming fears

Saudi says fossil fuels still needed despite global warming fears
Riyadh (AFP) Nov 4, 2015 - Leading crude exporter Saudi Arabia supports efforts to limit global warming but believes fossil fuels should remain part of the world energy mix, Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Wednesday. Naimi was speaking at a meeting of major fossil fuel producer and consumer nations in Riyadh ahead of a UN conference on climate change in Paris later this month. Saudi Arabia is seen as an opponent ... morehttp://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/Saudi_says_fossil_fuels_still_needed_despite_global_warming_fears_999.html

Russia just conducted a large-scale nuclear missile exercise

http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-just-conducted-a-large-scale-nuclear-missile-exercise-2015-11?utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=post_email_list

Eileen Claussen on White House Nuclear Energy Summit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IHrCY4PfQ0&feature=em-uploademail

Ralston Reports: Hillary firmly anti-Yucca — for now

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/college/2015/11/03/ralston-reports-hillary-firmly-anti-yucca-now/75132884/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

Argentina, China make "important headway" in nuclear energy cooperation

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-11/05/c_134786089.htm

Japan regulator urges finding another body to run fast-breeder reactor

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/04/japan-nuclear-fastbreeder-idUSL3N12Z39B20151104