japanese tsunami case study

Question 1

When was the tsunami?

Answer 1

march 11th 2011

Question 2

what were the causes of the tsunami?

Answer 2

• the 2 plates are moving towards eachother at a destructive plate boundary
• the pacific plate sinks between eurasian plate
• where they meet there is a build up of pressure
• eventually this pressure released as an earthquake

Question 3

the tsunami was a secodnary effect of the earthquake what were the causes of the tsunami?

Answer 3

• when the earthquake happened the water on the ocean floor was displaced by the movement of the plate upward
• the seabed lifts as a result of the earthquake and the water on top has to find somewhere else to go so it forms a giant wave

Question 4

what were the primary effects of the tsunami?

Answer 4

more than 15,400 people died and 8,000 are still missing
several large towns and cities were more than a 3rd submerged by water
thousands of homes and businesses destroyed
a dam burst its banks sweeping away more homes
power lines and gas services severely disrupted
telephone and mobile communications disrupted

Question 5

what were the secondary effects of the tsunami?

Answer 5

215,000 people are living in government shelters
fires spread quickly due to broken gas pipes
oil refineries were set on fire
four million without power a million without water
3 workers suffer radiation exposure

Question 6

what were the responses to the tsunami?

Answer 6

japan has a tsunami warning system which meant that 5 minutes after earthquake they issued a tsunami warning
many people were able to escape to higher ground
japan has some of the tightest building regs in the world