Case Studies - Living With The Physical Environment Flashcards
What are the case studies for earthquakes?
Chile and Nepal Earthquake
What date and magnitude was the Chile earthquake?
Date - 27 February 2010
Magnitude - 8.8
What date and magnitude was the Nepal earthquake?
Date - 25 April 2015
Magnitude - 7.9
Name three primary effects of Chile earthquake?
- 500 people killed, 12000 injured
- 230000 homes destroyed
- estimated cost USD$30billion
Name two secondary effects of Chile earthquake?
- Tsunami that devastated costal towns
- 1500km of road damaged from landslides
Name three primary effects of Nepal earthquake?
- 9000 died and 20000 injured
- 3 million left homeless
- 1.4 million needed food
- cost was USD$5 billion
Name two secondary effects of Nepal earthquake?
- Lots if landslides, avalanches
- Avalanches on Mt Everest killed 19
Name three immediate responses of Chile earthquake?
- Emergency services acted swiftly
- Temporary road repairs made to allow emergency services through
- Power and Water restored to 90% of homes within 10 days
Name two long-term responses of Chile earthquake?
- A month later, government released housing reconstruction plan to help 200,000 houses
- Strong economy based of copper exports meant minimal need of foreign aid
Name three immediate responses of Nepal earthquake?
- 500,000 tents needed to provide shelter
- Support arrived from UK,India,China
- Field hospitals set up to support overcrowding
Name two long term responses of Nepal earthquake?
- Thousands of homeless got re-housed, and 7000 schools rebuilt
- Nepal hosted an international conference to discuss reconstruction
What is the case study for tropical storms?
Typhoon Haiyan
What was the date, category and speed of Typhoon Haiyan?
Date - November 2013
Category - 5
Speed - 275km/h
Name three primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?
- 6300 killed - most drowned from storm surge
- 600,000 displaced people with 40,000 homes destroyed
- widespread flooding
Name three secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?
- 14million affected
- flooding cause landslides and blocked roads - blocking off aid
- shortages of shelter, food and water lead to disease outbreaks
Name three immediate responses of Typhoon Haiyan?
- International government responded quickly with food, water and temporary shelter.
- 1200 Evacuation centres were set up to help homeless
- UK government sent shelter kits
Name three long term responses of Typhoon Haiyan?
- UN and countries including Uk, Australia, US, Japan congaed financial aid
- Rice Farming and Fishing quickly became reestablished
- thousands of homes built away from areas at risk of flooding
What is the case study for flooding?
Somerset Levels
What was the date of the Somerset levels floods?
2014
What caused the Somerset Levels floods?
- Wettest January due (as of 2014) since records began in 1910, 350mm of rainfall fell in Jan and Feb
- High tides and storm surges swept water up rivers from the Bristol Channel
- Rivers had not been dredged for at least 20 years
Name three social impacts of the Somerset levels floods?
- 600 houses flooded
- residents were evacuated for several months
- villages were cut off as main roads flooded
Name three economic impacts of the Somerset levels floods?
- Somerset County Council estimated costs at £10 million
- 14000 ha of agricultural land was flooded for 3-4 weeks
- over 1000 livestock had to be evacuated
Name three environmental impacts of the Somerset levels floods?
- Floodwaters were heavily polluted with sewage and chemicals
- Huge amount of debris had to be cleared
- Stagnant water had to be re oxygenated before being pumped into rivers
What were the immediate responses to the Somerset levels floods?
Villagers used boats for shopping or school
Local communities and groups gave support
What were the long term responses to the Somerset levels floods?
20million pound flood action plan
Rivers nearby were dredged
Road levels raised to maintain communications in future floods
Vulnerable houses have flood defences
River banks raised and strengthened
Outline the causes of deforestation in Malaysia.
Logging
Farming
Mineral extraction
Population growth
Energy development
Explain how logging causes deforestation in Malaysia
Worlds biggest exporter of tropical woods
Clear felling leads to total destruction of habitats
Explain how energy development causes deforestation in Malaysia
The bakun dam flooded large area of forests and farmland
Several more dams are planned
Explain how mineral extraction causes deforestation in Malaysia
Mining is common and is the reason for cleared rainforests
Roads also need to be built for transport of goods
Explain how population pressure causes deforestation in Malaysia
Poor urban people are encouraged to move into the countryside and it lead to felling for land to build on
Explain how farming causes deforestation in Malaysia
Largest exporter of palm oil that causes large areas of land to be turned into factories
Slash and burn farming used by locals could burn large areas
Outline the impacts of deforestation
Soil erosion
Loss of biodiversity
Climate change
Economic development
How is soil erosion effected by deforestation?
Roots of trees and plants bind it together
Loss of trees causes it to be erode by wind and rain
How is economic development effected by deforestation?
Pollution of water sources means money needs investing
Fires can cause harmful pollution
Medical plants that could be profitable are going extinct
Decreased number of tourists
How is climate change effected by deforestation?
Les trees to capture carbon and trees give off moisture
How is loss of biodiversity effected by deforestation?
Destroys ecosystems and habitats
What strategies are used for sustainable management of deforestation?
Selective logging
Ecotourism
Conservation and education
International agreements
What are the international agreements about rainforests?
Understood as a global importance
Manufacturers are being educated about the need to buy sustainably
How does ecotourism benefit rainforests?
Aims to introduce people to the natural world in a sustainable way
Benefits local communities and income goes to protecting rainforests
How does selective logging help the rainforest?
By only cutting the necessary trees and not felling large areas of land, minimal damage is done to habitats and ecosystems
Outline the opportunities for development in Svalbard
Mineral extraction
Fishing
Tourism
Energy development
How is energy development an opportunity in Svalbard?
Coal is burnt to provide energy for locals
Can benefit from geothermal energy
Interests and development in carbon capture
How is fishing an opportunity in Svalbard?
Waters are the richest in the world and estimated 150species of fish
How is tourism an opportunity in Svalbard?
Lots of cruises to explore extreme environments
Provides around 300 local jobs
Enlarged harbour to cope with cruises
How is mineral extraction an opportunity in Svalbard?
Rich coal reserves is main economic activity and offers around 300 jobs
However has faced a decline due to coal prices and climate change
Outline the challenges in Svalbard.
Extreme temperatures
Construction
Services
Accessibility
How are extreme temperatures a challenge for Svalbard?
Temperatures can fall below -30c.
Dangerous to work outside
Dress very warmly which is costly and difficult to work in
Why is construction a challenge for svalbard?
Building houses, roads, harbours and boats, buildings and mining operations are key to their development
Most has to be carried out in brief summer period to due low temperatures and lack of light.
Also very hard due to permafrost
Why are services a challenge for Svalbard?
Water and electricity and sanitation are all needed for a healthy warm lifestyle. All pipelines need to be kept off the ground to prevent them thawing the permafrost
Why is accessibility a challenge in Svalbard?
Remote part of Europe
One small airport
Most people use snow mobiles to get around
Only 50km of road around the main town
