  Immediately after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan we
started to continuously survey the Outgoing Long-wavelength Radiation (OLR,
10-13 microns) from NOAA/AVHRR. Our preliminary results show the presence of
hot spots on the top of the atmosphere over the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
Plant (FDNPP) and due to their persistence over the same region they are most
likely not of meteorological origin. On March 14 and 21 we detected a
significant increase in radiation (14 W/m2) at the top of the atmosphere which
also coincides with a reported radioactivity gas leaks from the FDNPP. After
March 21 the intensity of OLR started to decline, which has been confirmed by
ground radiometer network. We hypothesize that this increase in OLR was a
result of the radioactive leaks released in atmosphere from the FDNPP. This
energy triggers ionization of the air near the ground and lead to release of
latent heat energy due to change of air humidity and temperature. Our early
results demonstrate the potential of the latest development in atmospheric
sciences and space-borne observations for monitoring nuclear accidents.
