Case Study - Tsunami

Question 1

What happened in Japan?

Answer 1

• On the 11th March 2011, a massive earthquake hit the north-east of Japan triggering a tsunami.
• The earthquake was measured as having an 8.9 magnitude

Question 2

Where does Japan sit?

Answer 2

• Japan sits on near the boundary of four tectonic plates - the Pacific, North American, Eurasian and Fillipno

Question 3

How did the Tsunami happen?

Answer 3

• As two plates, North American and Pacific have been crashing into eachother, which causes pressure to build and build.
• Then very unpredicatbly the pressure releases. This causes an earthquake which the lifting of the sea bed triggers the tsunami

Question 4

What were the impacts of the tsunami?

Answer 4

• 12,341 people died and 15,153 were missing
• At least 46,027 buildings were destroyed, washed
  away or burnt down

Question 5

Responses?

Answer 5

• There was surpisingly fast reconstruction
• Most of the transport routes and telecommunication networks were re-established in a considerable short space of time
• All 13 airports were back to operation quickly

Question 6

How was the tsunami triggered?

Answer 6

• From the sudden lifting of the seabed

Question 7

What is a response to do with tsunami experts and why has it been done?

Answer 7

• Tsunami experts from around the world have been asked to assess the history of past tsunami’s
• This has been done to better predict the country’s Earthquake risk