There is a worry over the vast amount of floating debris pulled out to sea by the big tsunami that hit Japan last March. Some are concerned a lot of it is radioactive, others fear ruin of pristine beaches on Hawaii and other locations and seamen find it is interfering with shipping lanes.
Here are some tools to keep up with the looming problem.
Resources for Tracking the Floating Debris Field
NEW > Japan Tsunami Marine Debris Joint Information Center
Google Maps, Canada Debris Tracking MAP – more
Tsunami Debris Tracking Project
http://www.oceanrecov.org/tsunami-debris/about.html
and their other mapping project using the SCUD model of the surface ocean currents (easy to see)
Radiation modelling maps from ASR has tools for predicting Fukushima related events
http://www.asrltd.com/japan/
Marine Debris.Info – public listserve for news
http://marineaffairs.org/marinedebris.html
The Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation - Tracking debris & organizing clean ups in Alaska
http://www.mcafoundation.org/tsunami_debris.html
Animated MAP of the Projected Path
http://iprc.soest.hawaii.edu/users/nikolai/2011/Pacific_Islands/Simulation_of_Debris_from_March_11_2011_Japan_tsunami.gif
Map of Marine Debris Tracking Buoys (interactive, check North Pacific) Has Live Data and Satellite view -
http://www.atiak.com/buoy_maps/buoytrack.php
Satellite Images – look for yourself
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/imagery/
The NOAA Marine Debris Page on it
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html
Marine Debris Tracker smartphone application
http://www.marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/
NOAA Video of the debris
http://youtu.be/GDxOTLemPPQ
Hawaii – Maui – INDIEGOGO sailing to track the debris
http://www.indiegogo.com/forMaui
5 Gyres research ship
http://5gyres.org/global_research
PHOTOS of the debris at sea
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glanceview/197035/tsunami-debris-to-hit-islands.glance
IN ALASKA – if you come across tsunami debris the Alaska Dispatch requests you report it using contact at the bottom of this page.
Report hazardous material directly to USCG at 1-800-478-5555 or 907-463-2000.
To VOLUNTEER for beach clean up (US and Canada) info is on our page The Bay
(newest at the top)
UPDATE – DEBRIS MAKES LANDFALL IN US & CANADA
Washington State on this page is referenced as “Washington” or WA, Washington D.C. is referenced as “D.C.” to avoid confusion – F.C.
Plastic trash in oceans ‘vastly’ underestimated - Oceanographer discovers that winds drive this harmful garbage deep into sea
May 28, 2012 – Chemicals in tsunami debris could pose coastal threat
It’s not the chemicals everyone worries about: Radioactive tuna caught off San Diego coast
May 27, 2012 – California - Japan tsunami debris hitting West Coast
May 23, 2012 - Expert warns of debris deluge to come
Alaska - ‘Unprecedented’ tsunami debris clean-up operation begins on Alaskan island… and there’s still 1.5MILLION TONS still to arrive
Major clean-up begins as Japanese tsunami debris bombards Alaskan island
Coastal communities must plan for tsunami debris
May 20, 2012 - NOAA lacks money and authority to lead U.S. tsunami debris clean up
Hawaii - White substance washes ashore at Barber’s Point
Alaska sightings of tsunami debris increasing, so what now?
Washington - Coastal communities question tsunami debris cleanup policies
May 18, 2012 – Senator Cantwell: “Almost as if there’s an attitude that tsunami debris is top secret”
US Senator: Japan tsunami debris will be worst single pollution event to ever hit west coast of N. America, far exceeding Exxon Valdez — Raises radiation concerns during opening statement
Spy Satellites Used In Search For Tsunami Debris
May 17, 2012 – Senators ask hard questions about the US’s plans to respond to the 3-11 tsunami debris
Juneau, Alaska - Debris gets local, federal attention
Cantwell gets few answers from NOAA at tsunami debris hearing
“The lead federal agency in charge of dealing with the tsunami debris from Japan can’t say what kind of flotsam will make landfall and how hazardous it might be. It also can’t say who will be in charge of clean up or even how 911 operators should handle debris sightings.”
Canada - MLA questions preparedness of government to deal with tsunami debris
[US] Coast Guard Gives Tsunami Debris Update – link to USCG testimony
May 15, 2012 – Australian to embark on tsunami debris mission - research sail voyage
May 14, 2012 – More on the 5 Gyres Institute’s Japan Tsunami Debris Expedition
May 12, 2012 – Vancouver - Tsunami debris to swamp coast
Canada - Environment Minister welcoming help with cleaning-up of tsunami debris
May 11, 2012 – Canada - Volunteers sought for West Coast tsunami debris cleanup
May 10, 2012 – Strontium 90 spread over 1000km evenly in Pacific ocean
Alaska House Democrats are asking for federal (debris) help
Tsunami debris could impact Alaskans’ health and seafood safety
May 8, 2012 – Washington - What to do if you see debris on coastal beaches
The most important thing for residents to remember is “If you don’t know what it is, don’t touch it.”
Tsunami debris flooding onto Gulf of Alaska shores [PHOTOS]
Hawaii - Discussions on tsunami debris from Japan will be held on Maui in June
May 6, 2012 – Sea-monster of tsunami debris starts to foul Alaska coast
May 4, 2012 – British Columbia – Tsunami debris merits respect
Alaska - Tsunami debris reaches Montague [PHOTO]
May 3, 2012 – Flotilla of tsunami debris on way — Alaska already inundated
“The thing that stands out to me is the amount of Styrofoam. Great big chunks – eight feet long to small broken up pieces. Urethane foam from walls that were destroyed. It’s an obscene mass. No way, in hell, that this is not tsunami debris,” . . .
May 2, 2012 – Tsunami debris onslaught called worse than Exxon Valdez oil spill
May 1, 2012 – B.C. - Canadian Museum Launches [Debris] Recovery Project
Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada - Piles of debris turning up on east coast beaches
Big tsunami debris washes up on beach in British Columbia [VIDEO also]
1.5million tonnes of debris from Japanese tsunami is being swept towards the US [with IMAGES]
Alaska – Limited Money, Lack of Planning Could Complicate Tsunami Debris Cleanup
Ap.30, 2012 – Harley-Davidson With Miyagi License Plate Washed Up in British Columbia
More Tsunami Debris Washes Up on Alaska’s Shores
Ap.25, 2012 - WA agencies prepare for tsunami debris arrival
Preparing for tsunami debris, wherever it may make landfall
Navigation Warning – Tsunami Debris on N. Pacific Routes
Washington - Officials ask public to be on lookout for tsunami debris
The mass of everyday items washed out to sea by Japanese tsunami begins to reach North America 4,000 miles away
Homer, Alaska - Tsunami Debris: Center prepares for beach cleanup
Ap. 23, 2012 - Suspected tsunami debris found on WA beach
Edmonds, Washington - Captain Charles Moore, scientist, activist and author of the acclaimed new book Plastic Ocean will give a presentation on May 11, at the Edmonds Conference Center
American who found balls swept away by tsunami happy owners are alive
Ap.22, 2012 - Japanese soccer ball washes ashore on remote Alaska island
Fukushima: “Debris field has spread in length more than 2,000 nautical miles and is more than 1,000 nautical miles wide”
Beach clean-up on Washington coast may turn up tsunami debris
Washington - When will the debris from the tsunami in Japan reach Grays Harbor?
Ap.19, 2012 - Japan tsunami debris tracking: Alaska volunteers wanted
The World Ocean Council is encouraging vessels transiting the North Pacific to send Japanese tsunami debris information to NOAA
Ap.17, 2012 - Tsunami debris will hit Alaska, other coastal states sooner than expected
Ap.15, 2012 - NRC Conference call to discuss Radioactive Waste that may return to US from Japan
Ap.14, 2012 - New estimate puts tsunami debris closer to U.S. based on NEW NOAA Model
Ap.13, 2012 - Oregon - Fishermen Fear Japanese Tsunami Debris
Ap.12, 2012 - Hawaii - NOAA Officials to Brief [US] House on Tsunami Debris
Washington – Boat owner finds tsunami debris on Orcas Island
1.5 million tons of Japan tsunami debris heading to Hawaii, U.S. mainland
Hawaii – Marine Debris a Growing Concern (has info on Tsunami Debris observation sail)
Ap.11, 2012 – Oregon - Questions about tsunami debris to be addressed in public workshops
Seattle - Local Agencies Get Ready To Tackle Tsunami Debris
US and Canada Agencies Coöperate to Form Joint Tsunami Debris Info Center
Ap.10, 2012 - Audio File: Interview with nuclear expert, Yoichi Shimatsu, on Rense.com.
says the reason the US Coast Guard sank the so-called ghost ship was because it is too radioactive. They did not board it. They did not tow it. They did not remove the fuel. The interview can be downloaded here.
Washington - Agencies prepare for tsunami debris
San Diego - County plans for debris from Japan tsunami :
“ They’ve launched hundreds of drifters into the ocean and they transmit real time data about the water movement.”
Ap.9, 2012 - Mapping Ocean Debris from Japan’s 2011 Tsunami (with animated MAP from NASA’s Earth Observatory)
US Senator Cantwell Statement on Sinking of Tsunami-Swept Japanese Vessel off Alaska Coast
Ap.8, 2012 - We Wonder: Is this Russian plane flying out to look at debris?
‘Ghost ship’ just the beginning of tsunami debris impact
Ap.7, 2012 - Congressional Research Service: “Tsunami debris might be contaminated with radiation from Fukushima Dai-ichi”
the 10 page report [in PDF format] is here
40,000 tons of drifting quake debris to reach N. America by Feb. 2013
Ap.6, 2012 - Northwest fishermen don’t want to reel in tsunami debris
Ap.5, 2012 - [US] Coast Guard fires on Japanese “ghost ship” - BBC Video of it – some PHOTO – Reuters Video
Tsunami ‘ghost ship’ to be sunk by US Coast Guard TODAY!
Debris in The Sea is Eco-Tourism Attraction For L.A. Expedition: Tsunami Trash Explored
Apr.4, 2012 - Debris from Japan tsunami tracked across the Pacific Ocean [has MAP showing present location]
Ap.3, 2012 – Concern for shipping traffic as tsunami ship drifts towards US
Japan’s tsunami debris is wake-up call for Oregon - OpEd by Deborah Brosnan
Tsunami ship becomes hazard in Alaskan waters
Ap.2, 2012 - Oregon - Questions about tsunami debris to be addressed at public workshops
Alaskan coast guard watches as tsunami ghost ship drifts toward U.S. waters
MORE:
March 2011 – 2012 items here.
On the topic of radiation in the seawater or debris:
The cesium deception: Why the mainstream media is mostly reporting iodine levels, not radioactive cesium
Shortlink for this page: http://wp.me/pA5vn-17K
[ This page will be updated as needed.
To find it in the future it will be linked at the bottom of the "Fukushima Info" page at the top of the blog. - F.C. ]
TY. Sharing at Reality Check Jet Streams Forum
http://realitycheck.no-ip.info/forum/index.php/topic,67.0.html
Thanks, Reality Check. A great website with the best updates on Neb. nuke plant that’s still flood damaged.
Is the purpose of bio-mass energy plants to conceal radioactive waste? The plants burn timber industry refuse.
No info at all that they aren’t what they appear to be but the wreckless burning of highly radioactive debris, willy-nilly, all over Japan seems designed to hide the problem not to solve it.
The reason the topic of bio-mass plants seems like a red flag is these 2 articles -
4 biomass power plants to burn debris from quake-hit areas
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120208p2g00m0dm018000c.html
and [from Washington state]:
Opponents file appeal on second biomass project
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120205/NEWS/302059994/opponents-file-appeal-on-second-biomass-project
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