Air update 5/23

Could be coincidence, or maybe, just maybe, I stumbled on to something when I "predicted" about a week ago, in a different Forum thread ("[R. Cromack] Radiation levels increasing at Fukushima Dai-ichi?"), that we might see a slight -- and, hopefully, temporary -- uptick in U.S. air radiation levels following a 3% or so rise in monitored radiation levels at the three more or less permanent stations at the plant.

On May 14, following weeks of steadily declining radiation levels at the plant, the station at the South Side of Fukushima Dai-ichi's main Office Building reported a slight rise, that lasted five days. This "bump" was shortly echoed at the plant's other two monitoring stations. A few days later, I speculated that BRAWM MIGHT, conceivably, report nominal increases in airborne radiation levels beginning about five days following the rise at Fukushima. Today, right on schedule, BRAWM has, indeed, posted results (via Mark) that reflect a 30% jump in the ever-so-minor Cs-137 levels over the previous result.

Important to note that these are still VERY LOW levels, and that Cs-134 continues to decrease -- and at roughly the same rate as has been established over the past several weeks of constant monitoring by BRAWM. I should also point out that, in spite of continuing, ever-lower "threshold" detection levels, I-131 as NOT detected, again. And it is likely that this most recent sample's slightly elevated result for Cs-137 is within the test's margin of error.

However -- having presented a "testable hypothesis", of sorts, it seems to have been validated. Any comments / alternative explanations / opinions?

Rick Cromack.
Allen, Texas

Thanks Mark for posting the results and BRAWM for the hard work.

Just a question, I know there is probably no way to tell, but, is it plausible that the increased levels of Cesium 137 detected are the result of previous depositions or they clearly indicate new radioactive plumes arriving from Fukushima?