Earthquake & Tsunami- Japan 2011

Question 1

When did it happen?

Answer 1

March 11 2011

Question 2

What magnitude was the EQ?

Answer 2

9

Question 3

At what plate boundary did it occur?

Answer 3

• at a destructive plate boundary where the Pacific plate is subducted by the North American plate

Question 4

According to plate tectonics how did the earthquake and following tsunami occur?

Answer 4

• Build up of friction was finally released by a sudden “slip”
• thrusting 300km wide plate in the subduction zone up 10m
• causing an earthquake

-this thrust jolted the water at the bottom of the ocean floor sending tsunami waves towards Japan

Question 5

How tall were the tsunami waves and how far inland did they travel over what barrier ?

Answer 5

Approx 15m high

Travelling 10km inland over 10m defence walls

Question 6

Primary effects:

How many were killed & how many injured ?

Answer 6

16,000 dead

6,000 injured

Question 7

How was infrastructure effected?

Answer 7

4000 roads
80 bridges
30 railways
300,000 buildings

ALL destroyed

Question 8

What is the expected cost of the disaster?

Answer 8

$237

Question 9

Name three Secondary effects.

Answer 9

• tsunami
• radiation pollution from damage to Fukushima power plant
• fires from broken power lines and gas leakages

Question 10

How have japan responded?

Answer 10

• building codes so buildings away & absorb shock

- warning systems that shut down trains and gas mains if any potentially dangerous seismic waves are felt