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'''The [[Reservoir (water)|water reservoir]]s of the [[Dnieper River]]''' in [[Ukraine]] pose a significant potential '''threat''' of a [[man-made disaster|man-made]] [[flooding]] if their [[dam]]s are destroyed. Such a threat is typical for all reservoir dams. However, the Dnieper reservoirs are especially dangerous because of both the geographical conditions of the region and the consequences of the [[Chernobyl nuclear disaster]]. |
'''The [[Reservoir (water)|water reservoir]]s of the [[Dnieper River]]''' in [[Ukraine]] pose a significant potential '''threat''' of a [[man-made disaster|man-made]] [[flooding]] if their [[dam]]s are destroyed. Such a threat is typical for all reservoir dams. However, the Dnieper reservoirs are especially dangerous because of both the geographical conditions of the region and the consequences of the [[Chernobyl nuclear disaster]]. According to a young Ukrainian researched Vasily Kredo the latter makes possible reservoir accident an existential threat for the significant territories of [[Ukraine]], and, possibly, the [[Black Sea]] bazin. |
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==The reservoirs== |
==The reservoirs== |
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==The reservoirs as a nuclear threat== |
==The reservoirs as a nuclear threat== |
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The discussion of possible hyperflooding revealed another much more significant threat when hypothetical details of the incident were studied. First of all, a release of every but southernmost reservoir would cause the destruction of the [[Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant]]. Subsequently, the whole [[Black Sea]] area would be radioactively contaminated to a significant extent. This can cause a [[Europe]]-wide [[nuclear disaster]] by means of large-distance air and water circulation. Some particular obstacles have later worsened such prognosis. |
The discussion of possible hyperflooding revealed another much more significant threat when hypothetical details of the incident were studied. First of all, a release of every but southernmost reservoir would cause the destruction of the [[Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant]]. Subsequently, the whole [[Black Sea]] area would be radioactively contaminated to a significant extent. This can cause a [[Europe]]-wide [[nuclear disaster]] by means of large-distance air and water circulation. Some particular obstacles have later worsened such prognosis. {{fact}} |
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===The Kiev Reservoir nuclear threat=== |
===The Kiev Reservoir nuclear threat=== |
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After the [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster]] in [[1986]], [[radionuclides]] washed away by rains badly contaminated the bottom [[silt]] of the [[Kiev Reservoir]]. [http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/battle_of_chernobyl/index.shtml] During the years following the disaster, there were suggestions to drain the reservoir because it was too shallow. It appeared that, if done, this could have caused the tremendous amounts of silt to turn into radioactive dust, free to be dispersed by wind. In that case, scientists predict even more serious disaster than hyperflooding. According to some assessments, dust clouds would devastatingly contaminate the whole Europe. Some scholars regard such disaster as the [[end of civilization|terminal]] one. |
After the [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster]] in [[1986]], [[radionuclides]] washed away by rains badly contaminated the bottom [[silt]] of the [[Kiev Reservoir]]. {{fact}} |
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<!---------The site said nothing about the rezervoir----------> |
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[http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/battle_of_chernobyl/index.shtml] During the years following the disaster, there were suggestions to drain the reservoir because it was too shallow. It appeared that, if done, this could have caused the tremendous amounts of silt to turn into radioactive dust, free to be dispersed by wind. In that case, scientists predict even more serious disaster than hyperflooding. According to some assessments, dust clouds would devastatingly contaminate the whole Europe. Some scholars regard such disaster as the [[end of civilization|terminal]] one. {{fact}} |
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Authorities reassured that the dangerous silt poses no actual danger if reservoir kept intact, and dismissed the draining plans. But this has reenergized concerns about ''accidental'' release of the Kiev Reservoir (and all subsequent reservoirs). |
Authorities reassured that the dangerous silt poses no actual danger if reservoir kept intact, and dismissed the draining plans. But this has reenergized concerns about ''accidental'' release of the Kiev Reservoir (and all subsequent reservoirs). {{fact}} |
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===Dnipropetrovsk dangerous wastes concerns=== |
===Dnipropetrovsk dangerous wastes concerns=== |
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The city of [[Dnipropetrovsk]] (standing on the Dnieper between Dniprodzerzhynsk and Kakhovka Reservoirs) has secretly been one of the centers of Soviet nuclear program for decades. Particularly, some companies of the city were enriching [[uranium]] ores, stockpiling their [[radioactive waste]]s by open air. Water drains to the river already affect some of these dumping grounds, although authorities try to protect them by dams. There also some toxic wastes dumps in Dnipropetrovsk. In case of a hyperflooding, all these wastes would be simultaneously poured on surrounding territories and the [[Black Sea]]. |
The city of [[Dnipropetrovsk]] (standing on the Dnieper between Dniprodzerzhynsk and Kakhovka Reservoirs) has secretly been one of the centers of Soviet nuclear program for decades. Particularly, some companies of the city were enriching [[uranium]] ores, stockpiling their [[radioactive waste]]s by open air. Water drains to the river already affect some of these dumping grounds, although authorities try to protect them by dams. There also some toxic wastes dumps in Dnipropetrovsk. In case of a hyperflooding, all these wastes would be simultaneously poured on surrounding territories and the [[Black Sea]]. {{fact}} |
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==Government position and recent concerns== |
==Government position and recent concerns== |
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The safety issue of the Dnieper reservoirs has never been discussed on a state level during Soviet rule. It was only in [[1990s]] when authorities of independent [[Ukraine]] acknowledged the discussion officially. However, Ukrainian government never admitted the threat being a real one. Occasional concerns about underfunding of the dams-operating state company were raised in early 2000s, but the issue has been settled. |
The safety issue of the Dnieper reservoirs has never been discussed on a state level during Soviet rule. It was only in [[1990s]] when authorities of independent [[Ukraine]] acknowledged the discussion officially. However, Ukrainian government never admitted the threat being a real one. Occasional concerns about underfunding of the dams-operating state company were raised in early 2000s, but the issue has been settled. {{fact}} |
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New concerns arose in [[2005]] after a fake [[terrorism|terrorist]] threat case. A [[militsiya|policeman]], dissatisfied with his commanders, anonymously called on emergency line, stating that he has planted a [[bomb]] in a cargo train crossing the Kiev Reservoir's dam. Immediate check proved the threat to be fake and the alerter was arrested. But the incident caused another wave of public worries. |
New concerns arose in [[2005]] after a fake [[terrorism|terrorist]] threat case. A [[militsiya|policeman]], dissatisfied with his commanders, anonymously called on emergency line, stating that he has planted a [[bomb]] in a cargo train crossing the Kiev Reservoir's dam. Immediate check proved the threat to be fake and the alerter was arrested. But the incident caused another wave of public worries. {{fact}} |
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On May 30, [[2006]] a |
On May 30, [[2006]] a young Ukrainian researcher Vasily Kredo alerted the nation again, calling the Kiev Reservoir “the most dangerous place on the planet” and claiming a real threat of its dam incident demolition. The researcher predicts a remote possibilty of the “radioactive [[tsunami]] from the Kiev Sea” that would kill 15 millions and make Ukraine “never revive again”.[http://www.korrespondent.net/main/155031] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.korrespondent.net/main/155031 Expert: Kiev Sea dam is in 93% emergency state] |
*[http://www.korrespondent.net/main/155031 Expert: Kiev Sea dam is in 93% emergency state] - Interview with Vasily Kredo |
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*[http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/battle_of_chernobyl/index.shtml Battle of Chernobyl: The Consequences] |
*[http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/battle_of_chernobyl/index.shtml Battle of Chernobyl: The Consequences] - History of the Chernobyl Disaster |
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[[Category:Ukraine]] |
[[Category:Ukraine]] |
Revision as of 09:24, 6 June 2006
The water reservoirs of the Dnieper River in Ukraine pose a significant potential threat of a man-made flooding if their dams are destroyed. Such a threat is typical for all reservoir dams. However, the Dnieper reservoirs are especially dangerous because of both the geographical conditions of the region and the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. According to a young Ukrainian researched Vasily Kredo the latter makes possible reservoir accident an existential threat for the significant territories of Ukraine, and, possibly, the Black Sea bazin.
The reservoirs
During Soviet rule, the Dnieper River was turned into a system of hydroelectric power plants by forming of the five artificial reservoirs. Listed towards riverflow, they are:
- Kiev Reservoir (alias Kiev Sea)
- Kaniv Reservoir
- Kremenchuk Reservoir
- Dniprodzerzhynsk Reservoir
- Kakhovka Reservoir
This significantly boosted the Soviet energy industry and created a deep-water route on the river, former unnavigable in certain parts of the flow, but has also contributed to significant environmental problems such as the diminished flow velocity (badly affecting the balance of aquatic life forms), flooding and evacuation of significant territories now covered by the reservoirs, altered river flow (see Irpin River), coastline erosion and many others. Later, the system appeared to be economically ineffective, as reservoirs’ waters began flooding important objects (most notably the mines in Nikopol region).
The hyperflooding risk
Like with other reservoirs, Dnieper reservoirs pose a potential threat of causing a major flooding if their dams become significantly damaged. Such damage may be inflicted by a powerful natural disaster (e.g., an earthquake), a man-made disaster, or a deliberate attack of the terrorists or enemy forces at war.
The dams are supposed to be safely protected from the natural and terrorist threats by both their construction schemes and government efforts. E.g., some engineers guarantee that every each Dnieper dam will sustain an earthquake (to its typical regional extent), meteorite or aircraft falling. There also countermeasures against overflooding and malfunction of dams. Authorities pay significant attention to safeguarding the dams and bridges by special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other security agencies. [citation needed]
However, the Dnieper reservoirs pose a special risk by the fact that they form a cascade with an untypically short distance between. In case if one upper dam destroyed, the massive flooding will impact other dams within hours, subsequently releasing lower reservoirs to the Black Sea. Assessments of losses in a possible Dnieper hyperflooding vary, but remain very pessimistic. [citation needed]
First of all, the water would unavoidably devastate the densely populated areas around Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, forcing evacuation and likely killing of millions, and destroying major industrial areas. It is argued whether a destruction of the Kiev Reservoir would flood the eastern (left) bank of the capital city of Kiev where the majority of so called sleeping districts, purely residential neighborhoods are located. The aftermath of a possible complex flooding also include the widespread contamination by industrial and urban wastes and creation of swamps on bottoms of emptied reservoirs.
The first concerns about possible hyperflooding were raised in the 1980s. [citation needed]
The reservoirs as a nuclear threat
The discussion of possible hyperflooding revealed another much more significant threat when hypothetical details of the incident were studied. First of all, a release of every but southernmost reservoir would cause the destruction of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Subsequently, the whole Black Sea area would be radioactively contaminated to a significant extent. This can cause a Europe-wide nuclear disaster by means of large-distance air and water circulation. Some particular obstacles have later worsened such prognosis. [citation needed]
The Kiev Reservoir nuclear threat
After the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in 1986, radionuclides washed away by rains badly contaminated the bottom silt of the Kiev Reservoir. [citation needed] [1] During the years following the disaster, there were suggestions to drain the reservoir because it was too shallow. It appeared that, if done, this could have caused the tremendous amounts of silt to turn into radioactive dust, free to be dispersed by wind. In that case, scientists predict even more serious disaster than hyperflooding. According to some assessments, dust clouds would devastatingly contaminate the whole Europe. Some scholars regard such disaster as the terminal one. [citation needed]
Authorities reassured that the dangerous silt poses no actual danger if reservoir kept intact, and dismissed the draining plans. But this has reenergized concerns about accidental release of the Kiev Reservoir (and all subsequent reservoirs). [citation needed]
Dnipropetrovsk dangerous wastes concerns
The city of Dnipropetrovsk (standing on the Dnieper between Dniprodzerzhynsk and Kakhovka Reservoirs) has secretly been one of the centers of Soviet nuclear program for decades. Particularly, some companies of the city were enriching uranium ores, stockpiling their radioactive wastes by open air. Water drains to the river already affect some of these dumping grounds, although authorities try to protect them by dams. There also some toxic wastes dumps in Dnipropetrovsk. In case of a hyperflooding, all these wastes would be simultaneously poured on surrounding territories and the Black Sea. [citation needed]
Government position and recent concerns
The safety issue of the Dnieper reservoirs has never been discussed on a state level during Soviet rule. It was only in 1990s when authorities of independent Ukraine acknowledged the discussion officially. However, Ukrainian government never admitted the threat being a real one. Occasional concerns about underfunding of the dams-operating state company were raised in early 2000s, but the issue has been settled. [citation needed]
New concerns arose in 2005 after a fake terrorist threat case. A policeman, dissatisfied with his commanders, anonymously called on emergency line, stating that he has planted a bomb in a cargo train crossing the Kiev Reservoir's dam. Immediate check proved the threat to be fake and the alerter was arrested. But the incident caused another wave of public worries. [citation needed]
On May 30, 2006 a young Ukrainian researcher Vasily Kredo alerted the nation again, calling the Kiev Reservoir “the most dangerous place on the planet” and claiming a real threat of its dam incident demolition. The researcher predicts a remote possibilty of the “radioactive tsunami from the Kiev Sea” that would kill 15 millions and make Ukraine “never revive again”.[2]
See also
- reservoir
- Dnieper
- dam
- flooding
- Chernobyl disaster
- man-made disaster
- terrorism
- existential risk
- doomsday event
External links
- Expert: Kiev Sea dam is in 93% emergency state - Interview with Vasily Kredo
- Battle of Chernobyl: The Consequences - History of the Chernobyl Disaster