2.8 Risking It Flashcards
Economic reasons for living at risk
- geothermal energy provides energy for the area
- farming the nutrient-rich soils helps agriculture
- mining provides energy and income
- tourism creates jobs and provides income
- it may be cheaper to stay than to move
Social reasons for living at risk
- people want to stay near friends and family
- threat may not be great enough, people don’t understand the risk
- people confident that buildings will keep them safe
Using examples, explain why some people continue to live in areas at risk of a tectonic hazard (6 marks)
People live in areas at risk of earthquakes and volcanoes mainly for social and economic reasons
Social: In Japan all new building since 1981 are earthquake proof. The interlocking birdcage frame and flexible structure allows the buildings to absorb the impact of the primary and secondary waves. Social connections are very important, families do no want to separate and community ties are strong, therefore people will continue to live in active zones.
Economic: Some areas have a beautiful landscape, this means that people are willing to take a risk to live there. This is an example of an environmental reason. An example is Iceland, which also benefits from geothermal energy to heat its streets.
As a popular tourist attraction, Mount Etna in Sicily provides employment for locals and tourism contributes towards the country’s GDP. It therefore increases wealth. 100 million tourists visit volcanic landscapes each year.
