Case study-Japan-2011-Tsunami

Question 1

When was it?

Answer 1

11th March 2011

Question 2

What was the magnitude of the earthquake?

Answer 2

9.0

Question 3

What plate boundary was it on?

Answer 3

Convergent
Pacific plate subducting beneath the North American plate

Question 4

What caused the tsunami?

Answer 4

A massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Tohoku

Question 5

What were some of the primary impacts?

Answer 5

Coastal areas flooded, extensive damage to infrastructures and buildings

Question 6

What were some of the secondary impacts?

Answer 6

Damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant led to radioactive leaks
Landslides

Question 7

What are some of the social impacts?

Answer 7

Hundreds of thousands displaced
6,000 injuries
18,500 people missing or dead

Question 8

What were some of the economic impacts?

Answer 8

~$360 billion
Significant damage to manufacturing, particularly in automotive and electronics sector

Question 9

What were some of the environmental impacts?

Answer 9

Coastal ecosystems devastated
Release of contaminants from damaged industrial sites and nuclear plants

Question 10

How many deaths were there?

Answer 10

18,500

Question 11

How tall did the tsunami get and how far inland did it go?

Answer 11

40meters in height
10kmeters inland

Question 12

Is Japan considered a vulnerable and risky location?

Answer 12

Yes, Japan is highly vulnerable due to its geographic location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes and tsunamis

Question 13

What are the risk factors associated with tsunamis in Japan?

Answer 13

High population density in coastal areas
Proximity to tectonic plate boundaries
Urban infrastructure that can be heavily impacted
Insufficient early warning systems in some areas