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Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

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Re: Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

#3
If this shows something crystal clear is that if the litter is let alone it doesn't burn necessarily. Just accumulates and made deep soil. The only wildfires in Chernobyl since 2014 were those provoked by soldiers. No men messing around + no cattle or farmers = no big wildfires.

Of course we want this litter to remain just where it is as many decades as we can, but under each rock there is always an idiot, so the healing process is never guaranteed.

Re: Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

#6
post #3

If this shows something crystal clear is that if the litter is let alone it doesn't burn necessarily. Just accumulates and made deep soil. The only wildfires in Chernobyl since 2014 were those provoked by soldiers. No men messing around + no cattle or farmers = no big wildfires. Of course we want this litter to remain just where it is as many decades as we can, but under each rock there is always an idiot, so the hea…

> The only wildfires in Chernobyl since 2014 were those provoked by soldiers

Not exactly true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Chernobyl_Exclusion_Zone_...

Re: Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

#7
post #3

If this shows something crystal clear is that if the litter is let alone it doesn't burn necessarily. Just accumulates and made deep soil. The only wildfires in Chernobyl since 2014 were those provoked by soldiers. No men messing around + no cattle or farmers = no big wildfires. Of course we want this litter to remain just where it is as many decades as we can, but under each rock there is always an idiot, so the hea…

I was living in Kyiv during the last Chernobyl fires (2020) - they were BIG.

There have been others - it's a very dry place in summer.

Re: Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

#8
post #6
post #3

If this shows something crystal clear is that if the litter is let alone it doesn't burn necessarily. Just accumulates and made deep soil. The only wildfires in Chernobyl since 2014 were those provoked by soldiers. No men messing around + no cattle or farmers = no big wildfires. Of course we want this litter to remain just where it is as many decades as we can, but under each rock there is always an idiot, so the hea…

> The only wildfires in Chernobyl since 2014 were those provoked by soldiers Not exactly true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Chernobyl_Exclusion_Zone_...

Thanks for the update. This proves my theory

> "At least one suspect was arrested for alleged arson".

> "the local young man has confessed to starting fires for fun"

Ok. Lets change "soldiers" by a more generic "human pieces of s*t".

I wonder if any fossil were radioactive before to became a fossil. That would made the process much easier.

Re: Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

#9

Radiation has a notable sterilizing effect - this is why the speed of a natural decomposition is diminished. Fewer microbes leads to a slower decomposition.

It's probably a good thing that the exclusion zone hasn't become a breeding ground for mutant radiation-resistant bacteria.

Re: Forests around Chernobyl aren’t decaying properly (2014)

#10

Radiation has a notable sterilizing effect - this is why the speed of a natural decomposition is diminished. Fewer microbes leads to a slower decomposition.

Most of the exclusion zone is pretty low levels of radiation so I'm not sure how effective those are other than that they're an elevated background level. The FDA says 10 kGy is used for actual sterilization. Most of the zone is https://www.fda.gov/food/irradiation-food-packaging/overview....
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