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Geography > Hazards CASE STUDIES > Flashcards

Hazards CASE STUDIES Flashcards

1
Q

Tohoku 2011 Earthquake + Tsunami Event

A

Impacts and human responses as evidenced by a recent seismic event.

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2
Q

Describe the spatial setting of the earthquake.

A

Approximately 500km of North American Plate rose 5-10m. Tsunamis caused by this were 10m in height, moved 10km inland.

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3
Q

Describe the temporal setting of the earthquake.

A

Around 1500 earthquakes occur annually in Japan, in fact have 1/3 of total earthquakes. Tsunamis happen rarely and no tsunami warning system meant people were less prepared.

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4
Q

What is the primary social impact of the earthquake?

A

18,000 people died or are missing.

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5
Q

What is the primary economic impact of the earthquake?

A

Buildings collapsed and set on fire due to broken gas pipes.

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6
Q

What is the primary environmental impact of the earthquake?

A

Removed 125km from the Antarctic Coast.

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7
Q

What is the secondary social impact of the earthquake?

A

6 million homes left without electricity and 1 million without safe, clean water.

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8
Q

What is the secondary economic impact of the earthquake?

A

There were 700 aftershocks post-initial shock.

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9
Q

What is the secondary environmental impact of the earthquake?

A

It shifted the earth’s axis by 10cm.

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10
Q

What are 3 short-term responses to the earthquake?

A
  1. 100,000 soldiers placed to establish order, rescue work and redistribute supplies.
  2. Money aid from China and USA used for rebuilding and providing medical aid.
  3. No reports of looting, violence with people being grateful to be alive and helping look for others.
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11
Q

What are 3 long-term responses to the earthquake?

A
  1. Japan announced a new, upgraded tsunami warning system in 2013.
  2. Reconstruction Design Council set up to designate special zones in Tohoku for relaxed planning regulations and tax incentives to promote economic development.
  3. Nuclear reactors did not restart until 2016 because of anti-nuclear groups despite pre-2013 providing 30% of national electricity.
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12
Q

What was the hazard perception in Tohoku, Japan?

A
  • Main religion Buddhism (NOT = Fatalism) so “everything happens for reason”. That and frequency of earthquakes makes population practice acceptance as live there despite high number of earthquakes.
  • Preparedness due to children running earthquake drills in schools, plus warning systems exist.
  • High magnitude caused more fear in poorer areas, wealthier may be more prepared/can recover quickly however generally less shock/fear.
  • More dangerous due to densely populated or overcrowded areas causing widespread panic.
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13
Q

Mount Merapi, Java Volcanic Explosion 2010

A

Impacts and human responses as evidenced by a recent volcanic event.

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14
Q

Describe the spatial setting of the eruption.

A

Mount Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia, erupting frequently. Directly affected 20km radius of mountain. Surrounding landscape is majority residential and agricultural land.

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15
Q

Describe the temporal setting of the eruption.

A

Started within days with 500 tremors beforehand. The eruption happened over multiple days with impacts lasting weeks.

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16
Q

What were impacts of the eruption?

A
  1. 350,000 displaced from homes and 350 dead.
  2. Total damage being £450 million, £13 million alone from agricultural economic loss.
  3. Farms covered under thick deposits of lava and ash because of pyroclastic flows.
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17
Q

What were responses to the eruption?

A
  1. 20,000 were evacuated from a 20km radius and temporary shelters were ready.
  2. Roads and bridges were improved for smoother evacuation processes.
  3. Increase in government monitoring centres and handheld radios given to local population as well as increase in education and awareness due to previous issue of people relying on traditional warning signs and spiritual connection to volcano.
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18
Q

What was the hazard perception in Java, Indonesia?

A

Surrounding area lacked hazard-proof buildings (possibly due to lack of development).
Locals are not familiar with warning signs (natural or man-made) because of lack of education.
Locals believe in folklore creatures protecting them from eruptions which is a form of fatalism and leads to less adaptation and preparation for future hazards.

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19
Q

Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans USA 2005

A

Impacts and responses as evidenced by two recent tropical storm events in contrasting areas of the world. (HIC)
Case study at a local scale of a specified place in a hazardous setting to illustrate the physical
nature of the hazard and analyse how the economic, social and political character of its community
reflects the presence and impacts of the hazard and the community’s response to the risk.

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20
Q

What is the spatial setting of the hurricane?

A

Southern USA borders Gulf of Mexico with warm water on the Tropic of Cancer. New Orleans is a coastal city (less friction before land and sea).

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21
Q

What is the temporal setting of the hurricane?

A

Became a Category 4/5 hurricane the day before it hit Louisiana but warnings and evacuation started 4 days before so there was time to prepare. Happened during expected hurricane season but was 5th most intense Atlantic Hurricane which never previously hit there (1st out of 33 since 1924).

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22
Q

What was a social primary impact of the hurricane?

A

Initial estimates of 1200 fatalities but were too low - 1000 in Louisiana alone (now considered 1800).

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23
Q

What was the economic primary impact of the hurricane?

A

Many businesses disrupted and French Quarter of New Orleans damaged.

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24
Q

What was an environmental primary impact of the hurricane?

A

New Orleans levee system (10-40% reconstruction incomplete) breached on impact, covering 80% of city in floodwater which contaminated freshwater sources and green spaces in debris.

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25
Q

Wat was a political primary impact of the hurricane?

A

Looters ransaced abandoned houses and shops.

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26
Q

What was a social secondary impact of the hurricane?

A

Power and water supplies disrupted, with 5 million left without power.

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27
Q

What was an economic secondary impact of the hurricane?

A

Financial damage broke records in USA = $180 billion. Damage significantly reduced tourism in New Orleans.

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28
Q

What was an environmental secondary impact of the hurricane?

A

Oil rigs in Gulf damaged with oil spill and debris reducing biodiversity and price of petrol shot up (rose to £1 in Uk for first time).

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29
Q

What was a political secondary impact of the hurricane?

A

Insurance companies had to issue profit warnings to shareholders due to massive amount of claims made by disrupted businesses.

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30
Q

Give 3 immediate responses to the hurricane.

A
  1. 1.7 million people evacuated before storm struck (5 days given).
  2. Louisiana’s National Guard asked 700+ businesses to evacuate (however only 100 did before storm struck).
  3. Charities in area provided food, water and shelter for evacuees.
31
Q

Give 3 long-term responses to the hurricane.

A
  1. Waters that flooded New Orlean were pumped into Lake Pontchartrain which took over a month.
  2. US Congress allocated $62 billion to rehouse and feed victims of disaster - however US Government criticised for slow response to area habitated by poor, disadvantaged black American urban dwellers.
  3. Amount raised for disaster was more than for 9/11 or 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and levee system finished reconstruction.
32
Q

Wat was the hazard perception in New Orleans, USA?

A

Most of population educated on hazards associated with tropical storms however, some may fear and some prepare. People believed that government was slow to respond, so hazards may have more significant impacts on the population, with more economic damage.

33
Q

Typhoon Haiyan, Tacloban Philippenes 2013

A

Impacts and responses as evidenced by two recent tropical storm events in two contrasting areas of the world. (LIC)

34
Q

What was the spatial setting of the typhoon?

A

Tacloban city in central Philippenes, extremely vulnerable to tropical storms from Pacific Ocean in South-East Asia.

35
Q

What was the temporal setting of the typhoon?

A

Became a Category 5 hurricane less than a day before it hit Tacloban (couldn’t prepare).

36
Q

Give a primary social impact of the typhoon

A

6000 fatalities and 6 million displaced

37
Q

Give a primary economic impact of the typhoon.

A

Widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure (army officers stated every building suffered damage or destruction).

38
Q

Give a primary environmental impact of the typhoon.

A

Soil salinisation ccaused by storm surges and freshwater sources contaminated.

39
Q

Give a primary political impact of the typhoon.

A

Widespread looting reported.

40
Q

Give a secondary social impact of the typhoon.

A

Large areas had power disruptions and communication cut off.

41
Q

Give a secondary economic impact of the typhoon.

A

Total damage estimated nearly $3 billion.

42
Q

Give a secondary environmental impact of the typhoon.

A

Flooding and landslides completely washed some areas away, block relief out of low-lying areas.

43
Q

Give a secondary political impact of the typhoon.

A

Local government in many areas collapsed as local officials killed during storm.

44
Q

Give 3 short-term responses to the typhoon.

A
  1. US Aircraft helicopters and 13,000 personnel assisted with search and rescue as well as medical aid delivery (international help).
  2. Over 1200 evacuation centres were set up by UN providing food, water, medicine.
  3. UK deployed two navy ships with 200,000 tonnes of aid.
45
Q

Give 3 long-term responses to the typhoon.

A
  1. Government organised “cash-for-work” programmes paying locals to clear debris and rebuild city.
  2. Charity aid agencies like Oxfam supported replacing 300 fishing boats, a source of income for many fisher families affected by storm.
  3. Rice farming and fishing quickly re-established.
46
Q

What was the hazard perception in Tacloban, Philippenes?

A

Large proportion of population has lived experience with previous tropical storms and other hazards like flooding and strom surges so they understood the full effect of the disaster and more likely to prepare and follow warnings. Lots live in fear but are unable to move out so communal strength and preparation for hazard in that sense. Not many people pre-Haiyan had any disaster-risk plans in place.

47
Q

“The Beast” Wildfire in Alberta, Canada 2016

A

Impact and human responses as evidenced by a recent wildfire event.

48
Q

What is the spatial setting of the wildfire?

A

Fire started west of Fort McMurray in remote forest however wind direction changed, spreading fire towards the city (unpredictable) and ground and vegetation was dry in the whole area. ‘Spotting’ also occurred, when wind carries fire ember and ignites smaller, secondary fire further ahead of main forest.

49
Q

What is the temporal setting of the wildfire?

A

Lack of snow and melting early spring. Above-average temperatures (exceeding 30 degrees Celsius) and low humidity. Debatable, but strong El Nino Effect could’ve contributed to this.

50
Q

What was a social primary impact of the wildfire?

A

90,000 people forced to flee and 2400 homes and businesses burnt

51
Q

What was an economic primary impact of the wildfire?

A

600 Shell Canada camp units destroyed, costing $1 billion and evacuating around 1/3 of its 25,000 workers.

52
Q

What was an environmental primary impact of the wildfire?

A

Intense fire destroyed boreal biome, scorching ground and burning roots whilst releasing several million tonnes of CO2 into atmosphere.

53
Q

What was a social secondary impact of the wildfire?

A

Power and water supplies disrupted, all water contaminated as redirection to aid firefighters.

54
Q

What was an economic secondary impact of the wildfire?

A

Insurance companies estimated $9 billion in damages.

55
Q

What is an environmental secondary impact of the wildfire?

A

Dry and scorched peat soil could reignite easily until heavy rainfall which washed ash, debris and toxins which contaminated aquatic wildlife (found as far as Gulf Coast of USA).

56
Q

What is a political secondary impact of the wildfire?

A

Wildfire sparked global debate on the impact climate change may have on future wildfires and their intensity and frequency, thu increasing social distrust and global vulnerability.

57
Q

Give 3 primary responses to the wildfire.

A
  1. Monitored wildfire with ground + satellite data and predicted spread with metereological data.
  2. Fire warning issued, evacuating 90,000 residents to safety.
  3. State of emergency declared by Alberta Government causing neighbouring states and Canada sending aid in search and rescue, for example helicopters evacuating Shell workers.
58
Q

Give 3 long-term responses to the wildfire.

A
  1. Offers of international aid from USA, Australia and Russia.
  2. Canadian Red Cross received donations of $50 million.
  3. Albert Government helped with living expenses offering $1250 per adult + $50 per dependant and neighbouring Edmonton evacuees could register for accomodation with reduced rates from landlords.
59
Q

What was the hazard perception in Alberta, Canada?

A

High frequency of wildfires in Canada, 8000 total and 1000 in Alberta province alone so people aware and live there despite risks. Lack belief in fatalism and population educated on hazards so understanding of effects and ways to protect (individually) or mitigate impacts (communally). Severe and intense fire may have caused fear within families though.

60
Q

Haiti 2010

A

Case study of a multi-hazardous environment beyond the UK to illustrate and analyse the nature
of the hazards and the social, economic and environmental risks presented, and how human
qualities and responses such as resilience, adaptation, mitigation and management contribute to its continuing human occupation.

61
Q

Give the spatial setting of Haiti

A

West of Hispaniola island, next to the Dominican Republic. South of Tropic of Cancer in Caribbean Sea, where many hurricanes form. On a conservative, slip plate boundary where many shallow-focus earthquakes occur. Hilly geology and landscape surrounding residential areas and capital Port-au-Prince is a floodplain. Poorest nation outside of the African continent.

62
Q

Give the examples of multiple hazards occuring in Haiti.

A
  • Earthquakes, some tsunamis = 2010
  • Hurricanes/Tropical Storms = Hurricane Matthew October 2016, Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, Ike 2008, Hurricane Sandy 2012
  • Cholera epidemics (since 2010 earthquake, 1st outbreak February 2013)
63
Q

What is the spatial setting of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and tsunami?

A

Caused by slip along existing fault close to capital. Shallow-focus event that was very strong at epicentre above causing high-amplitude Raleigh and Long Waves. Capital has densely-populated residential areas that are poorly constructed and collapse easily in earthquakes. Underwater landslides caused a minor tsunami and flooding.

64
Q

What is the temporal setting of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and tsunami?

A

Haiti has a history of high magnitude earthquakes, many people have lived experience and may expect it, just not within a specified timeframe.

65
Q

Give 3 short-term impacts of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and tsunami

A
  1. Over 300,000 people injured and 1.6 million left homeless forcing them to live in rescue camps set up by UN and NGOs.
  2. 60% of government and administrative buildings destroyed and 1/4 of civil servants in Port-au-Prince killed.
  3. 19 million cubic metres of rubble and debris left which contaminated coast and freshwater.
66
Q

Give 3 long-term impacts of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and tsunami.

A
  1. Estimated damage of $8.5 billion to Haiti, causing its GDP to decrease by 5.1%. New infrastructure collapses anyways due to landslides and flooding.
  2. Seven years later, 1.5 million still live in refugee camps with problems of flooding and disease spreading taking more lives so in a constant state of recovering.
  3. Small GDP spent on recovering than development (set back 125 years) so low literacy level (61%) and life expectancy (62 years) in comparison to neighbouring Cuba.
67
Q

Give the spatial setting of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti 2016

A

Form in Atlantic due to ideal 28 degrees Celsius sea-surface temperatures and move to Caribbean due to Coriolis Effect. Also, tropical storms that develop on Mexico’s Pacific Coast cross over and still hit Haiti due to small width of Mexico. Category 5 hurricane. Struck the Carribean and Southern USA.

68
Q

Give the temporal setting of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti 2016

A

Hurricane season is between May and October (7 months - majority!). NOT Hurricane Matthew however 6 months after the 2010 earthquake, Haiti hit by Hurricane Tomas, hindering recovery. Tropical storms very frequent and intense!

69
Q

Give 3 impacts of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti 2016

A
  1. UN estimated $10 billion in damages, $1 billion in Haiti alone as poorest nation and on Hispaniola island which got hit the hardest.
  2. 1600 Haitians killed, 140,000 made homeless and more water contaminated led to second cholera epidemic in 7 years.
  3. Extensive deforestation for fuel and agriculture led to soil erosion and mass movement so when showered with heavy rainfall caused frequent river flooding and surface run-off contaminating freshwater sources.
70
Q

What was the main impact of the cholera epidemics in Haiti

A

Led to a weak working population. Production and exports fell, further decreasing the nation’s GDP. This in turn makes it more difficult to respond to the plethora of natural disasters, cannot develop either.

71
Q

What are 5 other factors that impeded Haiti’s recovery?

A
  • Population of 10 million, with 1 million in capital alone, overpopulated area with rapid rural-ruban migration with consequences of rapid and unplanned construction, low investment, low GDP etc.
  • 3 hurricanes in 2008 within one month caused 331 dead and 800,000 in need of humanitarian aid.
  • Receives very little international or charity aid compared to USA HIC due to lack of media coverage (seen with Hurricane Sandy) and ungenerous responses of internationl governments.
  • 2012 faced a food crisis and civil unrest because of high food and fuel prices.
  • Combination of mountainous topography and limestone geology is ideal for frequent landslides.
72
Q

What are 3 successful responses to Haiti’s disasters?

A
  • UNHCR fund donated $21 million to refugee + cholera crisis in 2015.
  • Architects for Humanity set up Haiti Rebuilding Centre in capital to rebuild centres for education, housing, hospitals and communications (reducing future hazard impacts and less financial aid from governments and NGOs).
  • International Health Partnership sent doctors and nurses for 2010 cholera outbreak and now provide free training for potential Haitian doctors (good for development).
73
Q

What are 3 issues with response done/received by Haiti?

A
  • Majority of financial aid by public by too little due to little media coverage.
  • Haiti’s debt cancelled by donor countries in 2010 but has since rose to around $400 million as government relies on international financial assistance key for economic sustainability.
  • Cholera epidemic caused by infected UN peacekeepers from Nepal in response to Hurricane Matthew. Contaminated water flowed out of UN camps after Hurricane Tomas infecting other overpopulated refugee camps and poor sanitation, close living quarters exacerbated this issue.

Geography (8 decks)

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