Impacts & Management strategies after the earthquake

Question 1

Explain the background of the Tohoku earthquake.

Answer 1

• Happened 11 March 2011
• Earthquake lasted 6 minutes and caused a tsunami wave that reached a height of 40 metres.

Question 2

Explain how the earthquake occurred.

Answer 2

• Friction and pressure built up as the plate was subducted underneath the continental plate
• It was released and the energy released was equal to 600 million times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb.

Question 3

What were the short and long impacts on the people.

Answer 3

Short:
- 16,000 people died, 130,000 displaced
- Nuclear plant was flooded meaning people lost energy.
- Japan spent billions on defence walls. The tsunami washed over the walls, rendering them inefficient.
-330,000 buildings and 2,000 roads were destroyed/damaged and ports were closed for nearly three weeks. Sendai airport was destroyed.
- Around 4 million houses in north eastern Japan left without power.

Long:
-Economic cost of the tsunami was $235 billion. Estimated that it’d take five years to rebuild.
- Damage caused resulted in the meltdown of several reactions, contaminating the water and soil as far as Tokyo. Fish and meat products were contaminated.
- Japan’s transport system was damaged.

Question 4

Explain the short and long term impacts on the environment.

Answer 4

Short:
- Scientists estimate that over 800 earthquakes followed the earthquake. Each caused more tears in the ground across Japan.
- The tsunami killed, damaged land and polluted. Affects felt up to 6 miles inland.

Long:
- Earthquake made Japan 2.4m closer to America and made Japan wider than before.
- Pacific plate slipped westward between 20-40m

Question 5

Explain precautions taken before the earthquake.

Answer 5

• Every first of September an earthquake & tsunami drill took place.
• Billions spent on earthquake-proof buildings (only 13% deaths due to building collapse)
• £70 million spent on lasers that monitor plate movement so that warnings could be sent out within 3 minutes.

Question 6

Strategies after the earthquake.

Answer 6

• Rescue teams and soldiers sent to affected areas in one hour. Not enough rescue workers on hand or equipment to cope. Police there but had limited equipment.
• 300 hospitals destroyed so doctors were flown in, Emergency treatment was provided in other cities.
• Original barriers replaced with 18m ones.
• Festivals were held as usual
• Took 1 and a half years for manufacturing to be normal again.