1.1 Japan Flashcards
What Is The Magnitude Of An Earthquake?
The physical size of an earthquake that’s measured from the epicentre.
The Intensity Of Tectonic Hazards
The severity, how it affects the earth’s surface, humans and human infrastructure.
Mercalli Scale
A linear scale that doesn’t take into account the direct energy, it’s a 12 point scale that measures its impact meaning it depends on the vulnerability and capacity to cope of the local areas. (12 is absolute destruction and 1 is chilling).
Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS)
A measure of S&P waves, a measure of the total amount of energy released by a tectonic event.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
A measure of the relative explosiveness of volcanic eruptions - measures how much volcanic material leaves the volcano and the height/length of the eruption.
Natural Hazard
A natural event that involves people and is disruptive enough to disrupt day to day life, the repercussions of natural hazards aren’t very sever and are relatively easy to come from. The hazard is just the threat imposed by something
Natural Disaster
Greater impact than a hazard, it’s an event where harm is actually caused, and the threat becomes a reality. 2,000 deaths, 200,000 homeless, a 5% GDP drop and 1 year of aid has to happen for an event to become a disaster.
Vulnerability
People can be vulnerable because of location, state of their economy, social disadvantages, lack of education, overpopulation and etc, vulnerability’s important because it’s in the Hazard Risk Equation and determines the risk an area is facing which motivates areas to reduce their vulnerability.
Community Threshold
A community’s capacity to cope and the government’s strategies in bringing life back to normal after events such as tectonic hazards. It’s used on an individual’s empowerment before and after a disaster, the smaller the change the higher the C2C. A community’s relationship with other countries and groups has a high impact on their C2C, as them man will be helping recover.
Hazard Risk Equation
Risk = (Event x Vulnerability)/C2C
What Does The Hazard Risk Equation Address?
The risk a country is facing and what factors affect the risk they face, it helps them recognise what they need to change in order to reduce the risk.
Event Vs Hazard
A hazard has to cause a threat to people whilst an event doesn’t.
Tohoku Earthquake
2011 earthquake that was the most powerful to hit Japan and 4th most powerful in the world, it caused a 133ft tsunami.
Damages Of Tohoku Earthquake
16,000 dead
6,000 injured
2,500 missing
$235 billion damage
