Lesson 15-What were the impacts and responses to earthquakes (Japan)?

Question 1

Where is Japan located and why is it vulnerable?

Answer 1

• Located on the Pacific Ring of fire, where the North American, Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine plate come together
• North Japan>on top of the western tip of North American plate
• South Japan>above the Eurasian plate
• leads to volcanoes like Mt Fuji

Question 2

What causes Tsunamis?

Answer 2

• Earthquakes that occur at the sea generate a transfer of upward energy when plates slip
• This energy is transfered to the sea and makes these fast waves with a small wave heigh
• As these waves come into contact with the shore, the back of the waves then catch up to the front of the wave
• Results in massively extending waveheights

Question 3

What happened with the Tsunami 2011?

Answer 3

• Concentrated on the coast around 2011
• Epicentre under the sea floor pushed to a speed of 800 kph

Question 4

Social impacts of Japan Earthquake 2011?

Answer 4

• Killed 15,835 and injured 6023. 66% of victims aged over 60 as 90% of deaths were due to drowning.
• 100,000 children were seperated from their families
• Disposing bodies was very difficult as crematoriums were destroyed so bodies pilled up and spreaded disease

Question 5

Economic impacts of the Japan Earthquake 2011?

Answer 5

• $181 billion estimated costs as 25 million tonnes of debris were generated (much more than Haiti)
• 0.47% decline in Japans GDP
• The stock market crashed and had a negative impact on companies such as Sony and Toyota as the cost of the earthquake was realised

Question 6

Political impacts of the Japan Earthquake 2011?

Answer 6

• The disaster at Fukushima added political weight in European countries where anti-nuclear bodies used the event to reinforce their arguments against nuclear power

Question 7

Environmental impacts of the Tsunami 2011?

Answer 7

• Radioactive material continues to be released by the plant and vegetation and the soil within the 30km
• Agricultre was affected as salt water contaminated soil and made it impossible to grow crops

Question 8

Japan Tsunami responses

Answer 8

• Finding people was very difficult as landline telephone comnections were immediatley lost at the point of the earthquake jolt and those who had signal had spent batteries as electricity was out
• 452,000 people were living in evacuation facilities which were mostly inadequate leading to many suffering from hypothermia. (11 elderly people died due to this)
• Reputation within Japanese society was very valuble and being seen using supplies may diminish your family name