EQ3 - How Successful Is The Management Of Tectonic Hazards And Disasters

Question 1

State the trend for hazard vulnerability

Answer 1

Increased vulnerability is due to human factors rather than physical

Question 2

Define rapid and slow onset

Answer 2

Determines the rate and warning at which hazard’s materialise

Question 3

Define meteorological hazards

Answer 3

Occur from the weather such as cyclones, storms or waves

Question 4

Define Hydrological hazards

Answer 4

Are water hazards such as floods or a avalanche

Question 5

Define Hydro-meteorological hazards

Answer 5

Is the combination of water and weather, often flash floods

Question 6

Define Biological hazards

Answer 6

Is disease epidemics or insect viruses e.g. bird flu

Question 7

Define Geophysical hazards

Answer 7

Are tectonic hazards e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes

Question 8

Define Climatological hazards

Answer 8

Are fires, heat and droughts

Question 9

Explain the trends and patterns of deaths due to tectonic hazards

Answer 9

Have caused less deaths than they were in the 1960’s , there has been fluctuations due to events like the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004

Question 10

Explain the trends and patterns of people affected by tectonic hazards

Answer 10

Has increased the number of people affected since the 1960’s, with a peak of 450,000 people affected in the 2008 Sichuan, China earthquake

Question 11

Explain the trends and patterns of the economic cost due to tectonic hazards

Answer 11

Economic cost gas generally increased since 1960, with the economic costs of peaks increasing. For example the Japan, 2011 earthquake had a $250 billion cost whilst the 1979 San Francisco earthquake had a cost of $80 billion

Question 12

Explain the patterns and trends of the regularity of tectonic hazards

Answer 12

Are occurring more now than they was in 1960

Question 13

Explain the issues preventing accurate and reliable data sets for hazards (5)

Answer 13

Question over whether to include primary AND secondary deaths - people can die indirectly from a hazard years after the event

Political bias may prevent accurate declaration of data - governments will try to reduce data that reflects negatively on them.

In Densely populated areas and Low HDI countries it is hard to get data

Trends can be upset by a cluster of mega disasters

Who is responsible for counting data - no organisation is responsible, different sources report different figures

Question 14

Define a Mega disaster

How can it be managed

What are it’s impacts

Answer 14

Is a usual large scale disaster with a spatial, economic or human impact

Their management is complex but essential to minimise impacts

They are high impact and low probability events which are hard to predict. In a more interlinked and globalised world, mega disasters have a major impact globally

Question 15

Explain the Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004 as a mega disaster

Answer 15

A powerful undersea earthquake in Indonesia set off the Tsunami, rising as high as 40m, reaching parts of East Africa and causing 228,000 deaths

Question 16

Explain the Regional and Global social impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Assess the significance of these impacts

Answer 16

Caused deaths in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Tanzania and left more than 1.7 million homeless. There also became a lack of food, clean water and medical treatment.

Caused deaths to people from other countries, due to tourism, including Sweden, Norway, Finland and the UK

Had a substantial impact regionally, with devastating impacts to developing countries. Did not have a big social global impact.

Question 17

Explain the Regional and Global economic impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

Assess the significance of these impacts

Answer 17

The cost of the damage was $10 billion, with many coastlines needing to be rebuilt. The fishing industry was severely affected, a major employer in those countries.

Many global trade routes go through the affected area and were subsequently disrupted.

Had a large impact regionally on smaller developing countries, limited global economic impact.

Question 18

Explain the 2010 Iceland Volcano as a mega disaster

Answer 18

The volcano erupted in Iceland for the first time in 190 years, erupting 110 million m3 of ash 9km in the air

Question 19

Explain the Regional and Global social impacts of the 2010 Iceland Volcano

Assess the significance of these impacts

Answer 19

No human fatalities were reported from the eruption, people living in the nearby area had to wear goggles and masks as the ash was so thick, local water supplies were contaminated with ash.

Sporting, entertainment and other events were cancelled when people were unable to travel

The volcano did not cause a big social impact on people due to careful monitoring and prediction of the impact the volcano would have.

Question 20

Explain the Regional and Global economic impacts of the 2010 Iceland Volcano

Assess the significance of these impacts

Answer 20

The ash plume grounded most flights, with more than 100,000 flights grounded. Caused an economic cost of $3 billion.

Airlines lost $200 million per day, exports of perishable goods from the Caribbean and Africa were dumped leading to Kenya losing $2.8 billion. Japanese car manufacturers halted production and global businesses lost money.

The volcano had a huge economic impact both regionally and globally, affecting the aviation industry and global supply chains

Question 21

Explain the 2011 Japan earthquake as a mega disaster

Answer 21

Was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake which also produced a Tsunami, the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan

Question 22

Explain the Regional and Global social impacts of the 2011 Japan earthquake and Tsunami
Assess the significance of these impacts

Answer 22

Left 15,749 people dead, caused a large-scale destruction to properties, infrastructure and the Nuclear Fukushima plant, which disabled the power supply

The Tsunami affected places around the Pacific, destroying docs, boats and killing one person in California. The wave was 2 m higher in Chile and calving of icebergs occurred in Antarctica

Although that has it had a big regional impact, it was not as big as it should have been due to the preparation and response from the Japanese government. Did not have a big social global impact

Question 23

Explain the Regional and Global economic impacts of the 2011 Japan earthquake and Tsunami
Assess the significance of these impacts

Answer 23

Lead to a 5% reduction in the countries GDP. Fishing routes were affected by water contamination and there was an economic cost of over $200 billion

Had a big impact on TNCs, as firms such as Toyota and Sony were forced to halt production. Countries around the world shut down the nuclear reactors, leading to additional capital costs

Overall the Sunami and earthquake had a substantial regional and global economic cost, due to Japan’s level of development and level of globalisation

Question 24

Define multiple hazard zones

Explain the impact they can have

Answer 24

Are places where a number of physical hazards combine to create an increased level of risk for the country and its population

Hazards generally form a complex web of socio-economic issues, the magnitude of the hazard and human geography making the impacts greater and harder to manage

Question 25

Define disaster hotspots

Where do they mostly occur

Answer 25

Are where the risks are made worse if the population is vulnerable or suffers repeated events (often on an annual basis) so that there is never any time for a extended period of recovery.

The most exposed areas to disaster hotspots occur in zones regularly experiencing extra tropical storms, zones regularly experiencing tropical storms and cyclones, areas with active volcanoes and earthquakes and areas with a populous urban area. Includes: Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, New zealand and Costa Rica

Question 26

Explain why areas have variation in their disaster risk (3)

Answer 26

High population density makes hazard management expensive and complex leading to rapid destruction and a loss of life

Ecological imbalance as rapid urbanisation destroyed ecosystems e.g. deforestation increases flash floods

Rapid growth and in adequate planning leads to poor people settling illegally in hazardous areas

Question 27

Explain the differing challenges a multiple hazard zone faces (2) - Philippines

Answer 27

A one hazard event can cause or increase of hazards - 2006 earthquake killed 15 people, destroyed 800 buildings and triggered landslides

Different hazard events happening in a short space of time – can leave communities and the government dealing with a new disaster just as they were recovering from the last one, this drains resources and stretches the abilities of the emergency services to respond

Question 28

Explain the physical vulnerabilities which makes Philippines a multiple hazard zone

Answer 28

Has 47 volcanoes with over 30% of the country’s population living within 30 km of a volcano

The Philippines sits across a major convergent plate boundary

Lives within south east Asia’s major typhoon belts and the ring of Fire

Has a tropical monsoon climate, so is subject to heavy annual rainfall

Landslides are common

Has had 3 disasters over the past 5 years making recovery difficult

Question 29

Explain the human vulnerabilities which make the Philippines a multiple hazard zone

Answer 29

Is a rapidly developing country

Many of the countrys poor live in coastal areas, is prone to sea surges, flooding and Tsunamis. 25% of people live in poverty

Manilla has 2.8 million squatters in poor quality housing, tectonic disasters have impacted the poorer areas the most

Has a high population density

Question 30

Explain the ability for Earthquakes to be forecasted or predicted

Answer 30

Cannot yet be predicted (time and location)

The risk and probability can be forecasted since its based on statistical likelihood of the event happening at a location

Even though earthquakes cannot be predicted the ability to forecast can encourage prevention, preparation, response and recovery

Question 31

Define Prediction

Answer 31

Means knowing when or where a natural hazard will strike on a spatial and temporal scale that can be acted on meaningfully in terms of evacuation

Question 32

Define Forecasting

Answer 32

Is much less precise than prediction and provides a probability of a hazard occurring

Question 33

Explain how Radon can be used to monitor and forecast an earthquake

Answer 33

Radon is released from cavities and cracks as the earths crust is strained prior to the sudden slip of the earthquake. Commercial devices can be used to monitor radon levels but is too expensive and inaccurate in water

Question 34

Explain how electromagnetic signals can be used to monitor and forecast an earthquake

Answer 34

Electromagnetic signals vary when rock is stressed in the lead up to a earthquake. The strength of the signals increase before an earthquake

Question 35

Explain whether Volcanoes can be predicted and forecasted

Answer 35

Can be predicted with sophisticated monitoring equipment on volcanoes that measure changes as magma chambers fill and eruption nears, tiltmeters record volcanoes bulging as magma rises.

The minimal death toll from volcanic eruptions is mainly attributed to vastly improved predictions of these events. For Basaltic volcanoes it can be predicted where lava will flow and for Andesitic volcanoes it can be predicted when it will erupt

Question 36

Explain whether Tsunami’s can be predicted and forecasted

Answer 36

Can be partly predicted. An earthquake induced tsunami cannot be predicted but ocean monitoring equipment can detect tsunamis in the open sea

Predictions of Tsunamis depend upon technology, in developing countries monitoring is not as good due to the cost and difficulty to reach

Question 37

Define Hazard Management

Answer 37

Is a process in which governments and other organisations work together to protect people from the natural hazards that threaten their community

Question 38

Explain the hazard management cycle

Answer 38

Is a 4 stage cycle (including mitigation, preparation, response and recovery) where different activities occur in each stage. The cycle involves key players, governments, international organisations, businesses and community groups involved in reducing the impact of a hazard event on a community

Question 39

Explain the Park Model (hazard response curve)

What happens during each stage (4)

Answer 39

Shows how a country might respond after a hazard event, comparing how areas respond to a event based on development.

Pre disaster- quality of life is normal and people try their best to prevent and prepare for an event, by readying supplies and emergency services
Relief- the hazard event has occurred with immediate relief the priority with medical services and rescue teams
Rehabilitation- groups try to return to normal, by providing food, water and shelter to those in need
Reconstruction- in the long term there is investment into infrastructure, crops and property as well as trying to prevent the mistakes from the last event

Question 40

Explain why Japan have a high line on the park model (hazard response curve)

Answer 40

Due to their level of development. They have the financial resources and strong level of governance required to successfully recover and reconstruct after a disaster

Question 41

Define Mitigation

Answer 41

Describes the actions or interventions that a community may take to reduce vulnerability in advance of a tectonic hazard event

Question 42

Define Adaption

Answer 42

Is the way in which a community may be able to live with a tectonic hazard by making adjustments, to help the community survive by reducing risk

Question 43

Explain Land use zoning as a strategy to modify the tectonic event

Pros and cons

Answer 43

Is a process by which local government planners regulate how land in a community may be used. Areas at risk from volcanic eruptions and tsunamis are land use zoned in order to protect people and property

P:
Provides protection against the maximum extent a tsunami can reach
Reduces the possibility of building collapses and the economic cost as a result

C:
Communities are broken up and resettled
Will lead to overcrowding in areas
Not possible in some developing countries

Question 44

Explain building design as a strategy to modify the tectonic event

Pros and cons

Answer 44

Involves designing buildings to with stand tectonic events, including: steel frames that sway movement, fire resistant materials, open areas for people to assemble and light roofs to prevent collapse

P:
Reduces death and injuries from building collapse
Effective for developing countries with low cost designs

C:
Can be very expensive and complex

Question 45

Explain Diverting lava flows as a strategy to modify the tectonic event

Pros and cons

Answer 45

Includes methods to direct lava flows away from people and communities by building barriers and digging channels to divert flows in safer directions

P:
Was successful in reducing the impact of the Mt Etna eruption in Italy
Prevents the destruction of a community

C:
The path taken by lava is hard to predict, making it difficult to know where to dig channels and build walls
Terrain has to be suitable

Question 46

Explain GIS Mapping as a strategy to modify the tectonic event

Pros and cons

Answer 46

Involves plotting population densities, evacuation routes and areas affected most by earthquakes to allow aid agencies and governments to decide where aid should be directed

P:
Helps aid to be delivered to the areas impacted the most
Highly accurate and effective

C:
Expensive software
Not used in developing countries

Question 47

Explain High Tech Monitoring as a strategy to modify vulnerability and resilience

Pros and Cons

Answer 47

Involves learning about the systems of volcanoes and tsunamis in the hope of eventually being able to predict them more accurately in the future. Includes GIS, early warning systems, satellite communication and mobile phone technology

P:
Helps people to prepare and evacuate

C:
Very expensive
Only available in developed countries

Question 48

Explain Crisis Mapping as a strategy to modify vulnerability and resilience

Pros and Cons

Answer 48

Involves crowd sourced information logged by local people, to map where the most severe impacts on people are (people trapped under rubble or in need of food) and where aid help is most needed

P:
Directs aid in the right direction
Not expensive

C:
Requires people to own a mobile phone
Relies solely on local people

Question 49

Explain Education as a strategy to modify vulnerability and resilience

Pros and Cons

Answer 49

Involves helping people to understand what they can do to protect themselves before, during or after a hazard event including practising emergency procedures, encouraging households and workplaces to create emergency kits and providing education in how to construct hazard proof buildings

P:
Reduces vulnerability and can prevent a disaster

C:
More difficult in developing countries where there is less infrastructure for education

Question 50

Explain Community Preparedness and Adaption as a strategy to modify vulnerability and resilience

Pros and Cons

Answer 50

Includes involving the actual people vulnerable from the hazard in developing preparedness plans and educating local residents. Can include creating a list of vulnerable people who may need assistance, organising practice evacuation drills and providing first aid courses

P:
Useful in developing countries where governments may not have the resources to heavily invest in disaster planning

C:
Requires an authoritative figure within a community
Requires good communication

Question 51

Explain the Role of aid as a strategy to modify the loss from a tectonic hazard event

Pros and cons

Answer 51

Can be provided by the government, NGOs or IGO’s to help communities cope with personal, social and economic loss. Includes emergency aid (food and shelter) , short term aid (restoring water supplies and long term aid (reconstruction of building and infrastructure)

P:
When controlled by aid agencies or foreign governments there is an increased likelihood of recovery

C:
When controlled by national governments there is a possibility aid money is not used properly due to corruption

Question 52

Explain the Role of NGO’s as a strategy to modify the loss from a tectonic hazard event

Pros and cons

Answer 52

Play a role in disaster management especially when the local government is struggling to respond. They can provide funds, coordinate search and rescue missions and help communities to build their resilience

P:
Provide short and long-term aid and support
Do you not discriminate, useful in developing countries

C:
May be difficult for aid if ports and airports are destroyed

Question 53

Explain the Role of Insurers as a strategy to modify the loss from a tectonic hazard event

Pros and cons

Answer 53

Involves insurance coverage to help communities recover from the economic impact of a disaster, by providing individuals and businesses the money needed to repair and rebuild

P:
Reduces substantial economic cost of disaster

C:
Not available for most people in developing countries as they do not have insurance cover due to being in property

Question 54

Explain the Role of Communities as a strategy to modify the loss from a tectonic hazard event

Pros and cons

Answer 54

Involves the local people who are the first to respond and help recovery. Are crucial in search and rescue efforts and to form long-term strategies for improving resilience

P:
Crucial when aid is days away
Important in isolated communities

C:
Locals are often limited in the amount they are able to do