A plume of radioactive material emanating from Komsomolets
A sunken Cold War-era nuclear submarine is silently releasing radioactive material into the deep, dark waters at the bottom of the Norwegian Sea.
O Soviet K-278 Komsomolets sank after an onboard fire in April 1989, carrying not only the nuclear reactor that powered it but also two nuclear torpedoes.
Its wreckage was a tragic disaster that resulted in the deaths of most of the crew and left a long-term radioactive hazard in permanent darkness, the 1,680 meters below the surface of the Norwegian Sea.
A new investigation, the results of which were recently published in PNASrevealed that the continued degradation of the submarine has a potential for devastation greater than has been demonstrated.
The results of a survey, led by researchers from the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority’s Fram Centre, revealed that although the torpedoes remain sealed, the reactor is degrading, periodically releasing visible plumes of radioactive material into the water.
“Releases from the reactor have been occurring for more than 30 years”write the researchers, cited by .
Continuous monitoring of the wreckage since the 1990s has indicated intermittent radioactive leaks.
Initial investigations showed that the submarine was significantly damaged, the hull was cracked and seawater was in contact with the nuclear torpedoes.
Extensive work was carried out to seal the damaged torpedo compartment in 1994, and there was no evidence of military-grade plutonium escaping into the surrounding environment. However, ongoing annual investigations by the Norwegian government have revealed radioactive isotopes of cesium in the water around the submarine.
The new study concluded that the leak is not constant, but occurs in outbreaks sporadically from specific locations along the hullincluding a ventilation pipe and the area around the reactor compartment. Video was recorded of visible plumes infiltrating the sea.
Samples of these plumes revealed isotope levels of strontium, cesium, uranium and plutonium.
Near the ship, levels of strontium and cesium were 400,000 and 800,000 times higher, respectively, than typical levels of these radionuclides in the Norwegian Sea.
High levels and proportions of uranium and plutonium also indicate that the nuclear fuel inside the reactor is actively corroding.
Samples of the sponges, corals and anemones that live and grow on the wreckage show slightly elevated levels of radioactive cesium — but no obvious signs of deformation or other damage. The surrounding sediment also shows few signs of contamination.
Actual damage caused by the wreckage has so far been minimal.although very little is still known about marine life at these depths.
