Hazards - Case Studies Flashcards
Example of a volcanic hazard in a HIC
Mt. St. Helens
Economic impacts of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens
- $1.1 billion in damage
- Airport was closed
- Timber industry affected by the destruction of forests
Social impacts of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens
- 57 people killed
- Unemployment rates rapidly increased
- Hundreds of homes lost
Environmental impacts of the eruption of Mt. St Helens
- Large lose of wildlife
- Water quality reduced
- 240 square km of forest destroyed
Responses to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens
- Face masks distributed to protect people from volcanic ash
- Ash clean-up schemes created
- Emergency shelters set up for the homeless
Describe the location of Mt. St Helens and the nature of the eruption.
- USA, Washington
- Located on a destructive plate margin
- In March 1980, small eruptions and large bulge appeared on the side of the volcano
- Magnitude 5.1 eruption in May 1980
Example of a volcanic hazard in a LIC
Soufrière Hills, Montserrat
Economic impacts of the Soufrière Hills eruption
- $1 billion in damage
- Airport destroyed
- Temporary decrease in tourism
Example of a wildfire
Alberta wildfire, Canada
What caused the Alberta wildfire
Precise cause is unknown but suggested a contribution of:
- Lack of winter snowfall
- Warmer than average temperatures
- Very low humidity
Environmental impacts of the Alberta wildfire
- Released tonnes of C02
- Ash washed into water, contaminating aquatic life
- Scorched soil and burnt tree roots
Social impacts of the Alberta wildfire
- 90,000 evacuated
Political impacts of the Alberta wildfire
- Fuelled political debate about climate change
- Reconstruction programs for buildings and infrastructure
Give some short-term responses to the Alberta Wildfire
- Evacuation of 90,000 residents
- Support from the Canadian Air Force
- Monitoring of the newly ignited fire + fire warnings
Give some long-term responses to the Alberta wildfire
- The Alberta Government covered living expenses; $1250 per adult
- Clearing up and rebuilding
- 2016 ‘Fire Aid’ convert raised money for those affected
Give an example of a multi-hazard environment and the hazards they experience
Philippines; earthquakes, volcanic activity, tropical storms
Explain the volcanic activity of the Philippines
- 23 active volcanoes
- Can lead to lahars + volcanic ash mixed with rainfall produces mudflows
Give some background information about the Philippines
- Group of islands in south-east Asia
- Population of 100 million
- Lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire
Give an example of a volcanic eruption in the Philippines
Mt. Pinatubo, 1991
- 2nd largest eruption of the 20th century
- Ash + gas released had a global impact lasting two years; reducing temperatures by 5 degrees
Explain the seismic activity of the Philippines
- 17 between 2000 and 2013
- Leads to tsunamis, fires and landslides
Economic impacts of the Alberta wildfire
- $9 billion in damage
- Transport severely affected, including international airport
- Production in oil sands was halted
Give an example of an earthquake in the Philippines
Bohol, 2013
- 7.2 magnitude
- 800 injured, 200 died
- 79,000 buildings destroyed
Explain the storm activity of the Philippines
- Accounts for the highest number of deaths
- Around 10 tropical storms a year
- Risk of flooding and landslides
Give an example of a tropical storm in the Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan, 2013
- 7,000 died, 1.9 million homeless
- 71,000 hectares of farmland destroyed
- $5.8 billion in damage
Why is the Philippines vulnerable to hazards?
- Densely populated, low lying living areas with poor quality housing
- Concentrations of economic activity
- Deforestation has decreased interception leaving soil exposed
How have the Philippines responded to these hazards?
- Emphasis on post-disaster relief + forecasting and evacuation
- Little land use planning
- Philippine National Red Cross encourages co-operation between communities and local volunteers
- Government reactive rather than proactive
Example of oceanic to continental meeting:
Peru-Chile trench
Andes
Example of oceanic to oceanic meeting:
Mariana Trench and Islands
Example of continental to continental meeting:
Himalayas
Example of a rift valley:
Great African Rift Valley
Example of an ocean ridge:
Pacific Ocean Ridge
Example of an active volcano:
Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, April 2010
Eruption causes the surrounding ice to melt and flood the local town
Contaminated water sources
Farming ceased due to ash deposits
Example of a fire prevention scheme
Smoky Bear, US
Example of the negative effects of extinguishing wildfires
Alberta Wildfire
Frequent extinguishing has caused the forrest to become thick and deprived of light
Due to no fires eradicating diseases, the Mountain Pine Beetle has overtaken the forrest causing a lot of plant species to die
Example of mudflows following a volcanic event
The Colombian Armero tragedy
Rising magma melted the summit glacier
Heavy rainfall and flood waters combined with ash sending a 30m lahar travelling at 80km/h
8m of mud coverage following morning
Give an example of an seismic event in an LIC
Indian Ocean Tsunami, December 2004
Indonesia
9.0 magnitude earthquake
No warnings until after the tsunami hit
What were the primary impacts of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami
300,000 dead
800m of vegetation and soil destroyed
Costal settlements destroyed
What were the secondary impacts of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami
500,000 living in refugee camps
£226m in damage to the fishing industry
Water and soil supplies contaminated by saltwater
Name some of the immediate responses from the 2004 Indonesian tsunami
160 organisations and the UN aided in joint relief efforts
Australian Air Force improved the air traffic control systems at local airports
Name some of the long-term responses from the 2004 Indonesian tsunami
Large-scale reconstruction programs were implemented, but thousands were still living in tents one year on
Education on tsunami awareness
Practice drills and evaluation plans established
Costal zones hazard-mapped to identify areas at highest risk
Name some of the long-term responses from the 2004 Indonesian tsunami that didn’t achieve the desired aim
Large-scale reconstruction programs were implemented, but thousands were still living in tents one year on
Political barriers slowed aid distribution
Tourists resorts were quickly rebuilt but costal communities were pushed out for new development
Example of structural responses to a hazard
Sea wall, Corpus Christi, Texas
Example of disaster aid
Medicine distributed, Pakistan
