Atomic Shocks of the Old: Putting Water at the Center of Nuclear Energy History

Fig 3.

The Fukushima nuclear power plant was built as close as possible to the high-tide water mark, making it easier and cheaper to pump large volumes of cold seawater through the condensers. As this siting decision made the plant vulnerable to flooding, TEPCO engineers built dikes and a protective seawall. Tragically, these turned out to be too low when the 2011 tsunami hit. On the left, cooling water is discharged into the Pacific. (Photo: Tokyo Electric Power Co., TEPCO. Courtesy of IAEA.)