Earthquakes Flashcards
What scales do we use for earthquakes?
- Richter Scale (1-10), logarithmic, scientific
What other scale do we us for earthquakes?
- Mercalli Scale (I-XII)
- Based on impacts to people
- Observations and damage
What preparations do we take for management of earthquakes?
- Early warning systems
- Evacuation Drills
- Earthquake resistant buildings
- Remote sensing for hazard mapping
What short term responses can we use for earthquakes?
- Emergency services (search and rescue)
- Aid (food, water, medicine)
- Temporary shelters
What long term responses can we use for earthquakes?
- Rebuilding homes and infrastructure
- Hazard mapping for future mapping
- Risk assessments and community education
Haiti Earthquake
Magnitude - 7.0
Plates - North American and Carribean
Epicentre - Near Port au Prince
Haiti Earthquake short term impacts
- 230k deaths
- 300k injured
- 1.5 million homeless
- Collapsed communication, government buildings, disrupted transport
Haiti earthquake long term impacts
- Cholera outbreak from poor sanitation
- Still recovering years later
- Slow rebuilding due to lack of resources
Japan earthquake
Magnitude - 9.0
Plates - Pacific plate subducting under North American plate
Triggered a tsunami about 10m high
Japan earthquake short term impacts
20k deaths
300k displaced
Coastal towns and infrastructure destroyed
Why are some countries more vulnerable to earthquakes physically?
- Some countries sit on fault lines
- Poor building quality
- High population density
Why are some countries more vulnerable to earthquakes socially?
- Lack of education
- Poor communication
- Poor emergency services
Why are some countries more vulnerable to earthquakes economically?
- Low income countries
- Recovery costs
- Unavaliable insurance
Why do people still live in earthquake - prone places?
- Economic reasons
- Cultural reasons
- Confidence in infrastructure
- Lack of alternatives
