Hazards Case Studies

Question 1

Where is Eyjafjallajökull located? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 1

Eyjafjallajökull is located in Iceland, along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in a fairly rural section of the country. 125km from Reykjavik, ice caps top the volcano.

Question 2

When did Eyjafjallajökull erupt? What hazards were INITIALLY generated by this? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 2

Eyjafjallajökull erupted in April 2010. Lava flows began flowing to the North-East of the volcano, while initially a small ash ejection began.

Question 3

On what date did Eyjafjallajökull begin to erupt more violently? What impacts followed this violent eruption? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 3

Eyjafjallajökull began to erupt violently on the 14th April 2010, ejecting fine, glass-rich ash into the atmosphere at over 8km in height.

Question 4

What level on the volcanic explosivity index did Eyjafjallajökull reach in its most violent phase? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 4

Eyjafjallajökull reached level 4 on the volcanic explosivity index in its more violent phase.

Question 5

What primary impacts were generated by the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull IN ICELAND? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 5

Eyjafjallajökull led to the melting of glacial ice which caused flooding in local areas, saw ash fall on local farmland which prevented grazing, harvesting and farming, blocked local roads, closed Reykjavik Airport.

Question 6

What international impacts were there from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull? (How many flights cancelled, how many people affected?) - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 6

Eyjafjallajökull’s eruption saw major international disruption as ash fallout was exploded into the jet stream, which affected European airspace. 100,000 flights were cancelled and 10 million people were impacted.

Question 7

What (negative) secondary environmental and (positive) secondary economic impacts resulted from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 7

Environmental: ash production from the eruption resulted in eye irritations and dry throats. Ash mixed with flood waters to create lahars which channelled into rivers.
Economic: initial tourism created by minor eruptions, with 10,000 people visiting by April 2010. Tourism did decline into the Summer.

Question 8

What immediate local responses were there to the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 8

800 people were evacuated from the area due to flood risk, farmers had to keep livestock indoors to protect them from ash, gaps were created in road in order to release water and reduce infrastructure stress, schools were closed.

Question 9

What immediate international responses were there to the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 9

A six day shutdown of airspace ensued in order to reduce risk to planes as a result of the ash cloud, the Royal Navy collected soldiers returning from Afghanistan (as well as holiday makers in Spain).

Question 10

What long-term responses were there to the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 10

Local roads and flood defences were reconstructed, Katla (neighbouring volcano) monitored due to being overdue an eruption, tourist attractions were created at Eyjafjallajökull, insurance companies reviewed ash cloud policies.

Question 11

How much money did international airlines lose from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull? How much money did UK travel agents lose per day? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 11

Airlines lost £1.2bn as a consequence of the eruption, while UK travel agents lost £6m per day.

Question 12

What impacts on international travel and events did the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull have? - Volcanic Hazards

Answer 12

Saw the cancellation of the Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix and Boston Marathon, meant teachers and students could not return from holidays.

Question 13

When did the Nepal earthquake take place? What was the magnitude of this earthquake? - Seismicity

Answer 13

The Nepal earthquake took place in April 2015, with it being a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

Question 14

How far away from Kathmandu did the Nepal earthquake take place? What direction? - Seismicity

Answer 14

The Nepal earthquake took place 80km from Kathmandu in a NE direction.

Question 15

What 2 plates made up the Nepal earthquake boundary? What type of plate margin is this? - Seismicity

Answer 15

The Nepal earthquake boundary is made up of the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.

Question 16

How did Kathmandu’s geology and built environment contribute to the impacts of the earthquake? - Seismicity

Answer 16

Geology: built atop river sediments, which amplify the shaking and cause liquefaction.
Built environment: the infrastructure in Kathmandu is poorly built and vulnerable to shaking.

Question 17

How many people were killed by the Nepal earthquake? How many were injured? - Seismicity

Answer 17

9,000 killed

23,000 injured

Question 18

How many houses in Nepal were damaged or destroyed? - Seismicity

Answer 18

700,000 houses in Nepal were damaged or destroyed.

Question 19

What was the value of damage caused by the Nepal earthquake? (In dollars) - Seismicity

Answer 19

The Nepal earthquake caused $5.17bn worth of damage.

Question 20

How many landslides were caused by the Nepal earthquake? How many people died in an avalanche on Everest? - Seismicity

Answer 20

5000 landslides were caused by the Nepal earthquake, with 19 dying on Everest.

Question 21

How many people were still in substandard accommodation a year after the Nepal earthquake? - Seismicity

Answer 21

A year after the earthquake, 4 million people lived in substandard accommodation.

Question 22

What general impacts were there from the Nepal earthquake? (Health, tourism, agriculture) - Seismicity

Answer 22

Health: clean drinking water availability fell in rural areas.
Tourism: loss of tourism revenues
Agriculture: damage to agricultural production

Question 23

How much financial aid did the UN give to Nepal? How much did the UK give? - Seismicity

Answer 23

UN: $15m
UK: £73m

Question 24

What % of Nepal’s military was deployed in response to the Nepal earthquake? - Seismicity

Answer 24

90% of Nepal’s military was deployed in response to the earthquake.

Question 25

What involvement did NGOs have in supplying emergency aid to Nepal? - Seismicity

Answer 25

NGOs brought emergency supplies, such as UNICEF supplying hygiene kits, water purification tablets and nutritional foods. Also helped evacuate and save people from fallen structures.

Question 26

How much money did the World Bank grant to Nepal? How many families did this assist in rebuilding houses? - Seismicity

Answer 26

The World Bank granted $200m to Nepal, allowing 100,000 families to rebuild houses.

Question 27

How did Oxfam contribute to the long-term responses to the Nepal earthquake? - Seismicity

Answer 27

Oxfam set up ‘cash for work’ schemes which paid local people for undertaking reconstruction work and the rebuilding of infrastructure.

Question 28

When did Hurricane Katrina occur? What category of storm was this and what was its maximum wind speed? - Storm Hazards

Answer 28

Hurricane Katrina occurred in August 2005. This was a 3/4/5 Category storm, reaching speeds of 200 mph.

Question 29

How many people were killed by Hurricane Katrina? How many people were displaced? - Storm Hazards

Answer 29

1836 people were killed by Hurricane Katrina, while 800,000 people were displaced.

Question 30

What was the cost of property damage caused by Hurricane Katrina? - Storm Hazards

Answer 30

$81bn of property damage was caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Question 31

What % of New Orleans was flooded in Hurricane Katrina? What % of houses were flooded? - Storm Hazards

Answer 31

80% of New Orleans was flooded in Hurricane Katrina, with 60% of houses flooded.

Question 32

What height was the storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina? - Storm Hazards.

Answer 32

Hurricane Katrina caused a 10m storm surge.

Question 33

What secondary social, economic and environmental impacts were there from Hurricane Katrina? - Storm Hazards

Answer 33

Social: houses were ransacked, racial tensions and inequality exposed by impacts.
Economic: loss of earnings and creation of unemployment, $81bn cost of damage.
Environmental: oil refineries and rigs were damaged, 16 wildlife refuges closed due to damage.

Question 34

What attempts at mitigation were there prior to Hurricane Katrina making landfall? - Storm Hazards

Answer 34

The storm was predicted and tracked to allow a response to be prepared. A mandatory evacuation was ordered and a state of emergency was declared by Bush 2 days prior to landfall.

Question 35

What aid was provided to assist the recovery from Hurricane Katrina? - Storm Hazards

Answer 35

$60bn of federal funds was assigned for the recovery effort, Kuwait gave $500m worth of aid, India sent basic supplies, 275 shelters were set up by the American Red Cross.

Question 36

What long-term responses were there to Hurricane Katrina? - Storm Hazards

Answer 36

Flood defences were rebuilt, 10,000 homes leased to displaced families, funding provided for environmental cleanup operations, many permanently left New Orleans, oil and gas refineries were repaired.

Question 37

When did Typhoon Haiyian take place? What category of storm was this and what wind speeds did this reach? - Storm Hazards

Answer 37

Typhoon Haiyan took place in November 2013, being a category 5 storm with 300km/h wind speeds.

Question 38

How many people were killed by Typhoon Haiyan? How many were missing? How many were made homeless? - Storm Hazards

Answer 38

Typhoon Haiyan killed 6000 people and left 1000 missing. 2 million people ended up homeless.

Question 39

What primary impacts occurred from Typhoon Haiyan? - Storm Hazards

Answer 39

Tacloban airport was destroyed, communication and power lines were felled, a 5m storm surge hit the Philippines, local ecosystems were hit by sewage and oil leaks, rice and coconut crops were destroyed, harming exports.

Question 40

What were secondary impacts from Typhoon Haiyan? - Storm Hazards

Answer 40

Major cost of recovery and rebuilding, looting took place in Tacloban, fishing equipment was damaged to harm food supplies, landslides and flooding blocked roads and restricted aid provision, farming land was devastated.

Question 41

What was the total cost of damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan? - Storm Hazards

Answer 41

Typhoon Haiyan’s damage cost $2.1bn

Question 42

What were short-term responses to Typhoon Haiyan? - Storm Hazards

Answer 42

A state of national calamity was declared in the Philippines, WHO medical aid ensured that cholera and dysentery remained isolated, Tacloban Airport was rebuilt to aid the relief effort.

Question 43

How much money did the UN donate in emergency funds to help the recovery after Typhoon Haiyan? How many tonnes of aid did the UK supply? - Storm Hazards

Answer 43

The UN donated $25m in emergency funds, while the UK donated 200,000 tonnes of aid.

Question 44

What involvement did NGOs have in the long-term responses to Typhoon Haiyan? - Storm Hazards

Answer 44

The Red Cross was involved in rebuilding efforts through cash for work schemes, Oxfam provided grants to repair and buy boats to aid fishing industries, Save the Children built tented schools to continue education.

Question 45

What long-term responses were there to Typhoon Haiyan? - Storm Hazards

Answer 45

Mangroves were planted along the coast to diminish the risk of a storm surge, the UN Development Programme worked with government to improve disaster management policies, cash for work schemes were organised to coordinate relief efforts, fishing industries were supported.

Question 46

When did the Alberta wildfire take place? - Fires in Nature

Answer 46

The Alberta wildfire took place between May and July 2016. CANADA’S COSTLIEST DISASTER IN HISTORY.

Question 47

How did the wind direction and climactic conditions contribute to the Alberta wildfire respectively? - Fires in Nature

Answer 47

Wind direction: change in wind direction resulted in spread of fire towards Fort McMurray.
Climactic conditions: El Niño event resulted in dry Autumn/Winter seasons and warm spring.

Question 48

How did temperatures/wind and the fire itself contribute to the Alberta wildfire respectively? - Fires in Nature

Answer 48

Temperatures/wind: over 30°C temperatures and winds of 72km/h created perfect conditions for wildfires.
Fire itself: created own weather patterns and lightning, which further ignited fires.

Question 49

What social impacts were there of the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 49

2400 houses were destroyed, businesses were lost, 90,000 were evacuated, power supplies were disrupted, water supplies were contaminated when untreated water was introduced to assist firefighters.

Question 50

How many people were killed from the Alberta wildfire? How many were evacuated? - Fires in Nature

Answer 50

0 people were killed from the Alberta wildfire. 90,000 were evacuated.

Question 51

What economic impacts were there from the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 51

$9bn of damage caused to Fort McMurray, 1.2m of barrels of oil lost/day for 2 weeks, costliest disaster in Canadian history, impacted global price of oil.

Question 52

What was the cost of damage to Fort McMurray from the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 52

$9bn of damage was caused to Fort McMurray.

Question 53

What were environmental impacts of the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 53

600,000 ha of land was burned, toxic air pollution from burning cars/buildings/factories, scorched forests damaged ecosystems, 500 species lost their habitats, mercury and lead detected in water supplies.

Question 54

How many hectares of land were lost from the Alberta wildfire? How many species lost habitats? - Fires in Nature

Answer 54

600,000 ha of land were lost from the Alberta wildfire. 500 species lost habitats.

Question 55

What were short term responses to the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 55

90,000 people were evacuated from the area, the fire was tracked and monitored with satellite data, a state of emergency was declared, shelters and food were offered to evacuees, emergency services mobilised.

Question 56

What % of Fort McMurray was saved by the response to the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 56

85% of Fort McMurray was saved by the Alberta wildfire response.

Question 57

What were long term responses to the Alberta wildfire? - Fires in Nature

Answer 57

Public transport schemes were repaired, increased government investment was made in disaster management schemes, Canadian Red Cross donated to businesses, evacuees were given funds to cover living expenses, air and water quality was monitored.