The evacuation zones resulting from the Chernobyl accident have been copied onto a map of California, with the point representing the Chernobyl nuclear power plant placed over San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

The northwest winds that flow a significant portion of the time past San Onofre would direct the fallout cloud towards San Diego and beyond in to Mexico.

This simulation illustrates the pervasive reach of nuclear fallout which travels borne on wind and weather.

Many parts of Europe and Asia are still (in 2005) affected by Chernobyl fallout deposited in 1986. Originally many scientists believed that fallout would be washed away in a few months. Nuclear enthusiasm meets reality, again.

• Please sign up for our newsletters on the left side of the page.
• One of our board members, Shirley Vaine lives in San Diego.