Case Studies

Question 1

Economic Negatives for Nepal due to the Himalayas

2

Answer 1

Product price increase due to wealthier tourists.

Locals have to pay higher. Prices they cannot afford

Question 2

Social Benefits for Nepal due to the Himalayas

1

Answer 2

Funds for climbing contribute to public services

Question 3

Social Negatives for Nepal due to the Himalayas

2

Answer 3

Traditional Sherpa way of life due to fame and wealth

Cannot provide electricity and water for everyone due to increased foreign demand

Question 4

Environmental Benefits for Nepal due to the Himalayas

2

Answer 4

8kg of litter must be collected or $4000 fine

Money used to preserve fragile environment

Question 5

Environmental Negatives for Nepal due to the Himalayas

2

Answer 5

10 tonnes of rubbish on mountain

Climbing progressively ruining mountain

Question 6

Materials that can be mined

Answer 6

Iron, Nickel, Tin, Granite, Rare Gems, Copper, Lead

Question 7

Difficulties with mining in Himalayas

4

Answer 7

1. Government do not have the financial strength and infrastructure to mine properly
2. Products are exported to India where they are cut and polished
3. India make massive profit as they are bought cheaply
4. 51% of exports go to India

Question 8

Hydroelectric Power in Himalayas

3

Answer 8

1. Ideal relief + snow melt
2. Water collected in a dam and then falling water generates electricity
3. Excess electricity could be sold to India

Question 9

Farming in Himalayas

4

Answer 9

1. Terraced farming due to steep land and thin soil
2. Subsistence farming so governments to encouraging people to sell more valuable crops like ginger, tea and sugar
3. Farmers grow food and keep cattle for family needs only
4. 76% work in farming and that is 35% of GDP

Question 10

Problems with Himalayan farming

1

Answer 10

Increasing farming land=deforestation
Therefore
Flooding in Bangladesh

Question 11

Montserrat Background Information

Answer 11

Located in Lesser Antilles
Capital = Plymouth
Eruption occurred August 1995
Volcano called Soufrière Hills

Question 12

Montserrat formation

Answer 12

The oceanic North American plate subducts beneath the continental Caribbean plate.
Plate melts as it subducts into the mantle
Excess magma forced up through weakness in the crust

Question 13

Effects of Montserrat Eruption

8

Answer 13

Half of island became uninhabitable due to pyroclastic flows
Infrastructure (airport) destroyed 
19 died
Many fled island
Farms, homes and capital destroyed 
Economy devastated 
Tourists stopped visiting
Quartz in ash so long term health effects

Question 14

Immediate responses of Montserrat Eruption

5

Answer 14

Residents evacuated to North of island
April 1996 total evacuation
Population fell 12,000-3,500
Charities set up tetracycline schools and sent animal food
British government sent £millions in aid

Question 15

Long term responses of Montserrat Eruption

Answer 15

Population increase 3500-5000
Population Structure changed - old returned
British government spent £200m on restoring electricity, water and harbor

Question 16

How wide is Yellowstone caldera

Answer 16

6.5km

Question 17

Methods of monitoring volcanoes

5

Answer 17

Gas Emissions 
Tectonic Activity
Tilt Metres
GPS
Lasers

Question 18

Background info for Chile

Answer 18

27/02/2010
8.8 on the Richter scale 
Destructive plate boundary when Nazca subducted beneath S.American plate 
Occurred off coast therefore tsunami 
Focus was 115km from Concepion

Question 19

Haiti Background Information

Answer 19

12/01/2010
7.0 on Richter scale
Destructive plate boundary between Caribbean and North American plates
Focus was 25km from Port au Prince and there was a number of serious aftershocks afterwards

Question 20

Chile Primary Effects

5

Answer 20

500 died
12,000 injured
500,000 homes damaged
Bridges and roads destroyed 
Santiago Airport damaged

Question 21

Chile Secondary Effects

4

Answer 21

Lost power, water and communications
Pacific countries hit by tsunami
Chemical plant fire outside Santiago
Chilean copper mines suffered no damage so economy was not affected

Question 22

Haitian Primary Effects

6

Answer 22

220,000 killed
300,000 injured 
Port and roads damaged 
8 hospitals and lots of government buildings damaged 
100,000 houses were destroyed 
200,000 damaged in Port au Prince
1.3 million Haitians displaced

Question 23

Haitian Secondary Effects

7

Answer 23

2 million left without food and water
Government building destruction meant difficult to control Haiti
Port and road damage meant critical aid could not reach and be distributed
Displaced people moved into tents and temporary shelter
Outbreaks of cholera
Frequent power cuts
Dead lay in the streets

Question 24

Chile Immediate responses

4

Answer 24

Rapid analysis of situation so could ask for specific help
Route 5 highway temporarily repaired
90% of homes had power restored after 10 days
$60million raised by telethon to build emergency shelters

Question 25

Long term Chile responses

2

Answer 25

Housing reconstruction plan to rebuild 196,000 houses - organized 1 month after
Strong economy so didn’t rely on foreign aid

Question 26

Haitian Immediate Responses

6

Answer 26

Port and roads damaged so crucial aid could not be distributed
American engineers and divers cleared the debris
USA sent 10,000 troops and $100million in aid
UN sent troops and set up a food aid program to feed 2 million people
Bottled water and purification tablets distributed
235,000 people moved from Port au Prince to other cities

Question 27

Economic Benefits for Nepal due to the Himalayas

3

Answer 27

$500m spent due to 600k visitors (4%GDP)
$33m earned from climbing Everest
Sherpa earns $1600 per climb