Living With Tectonic Hazards KQ3 Flashcards
How are land use regulations used to prepared for earthquakes?
Land use regulations are rules that restrict developments in certain areas that have been deemed to be at greater risk to damage from earthquakes. For example, in California, all new building developments are not built across fault lines or areas at risk of liquefaction.
What are the success and limitations of land use regulations?
Land use regulations reduce damage to property and the danger posed to human lives are minimized. However, these measures may be costly as many of these areas may already be populated and governments would have to compensate those already living there. Also, existing owners might be reluctant to give up land and move as they feel that another earthquake may not occur in their lifetime.
How is infrastructure and building design used to prepare for earthquakes?
Infrastructure needs to be developed with advanced engineering to withstand the shocks associated with earthquakes. Using effective building designs which can reduce the chance of buildings collapsing. Roads, bridges and dams can be built to withstand earthquake shocks or made more to be easily repaired. Buildings can be fitted trip switches that ensure all electrical points are switched off in an earthquake to prevent fires from breaking out. For example, Taipei 101, a building in Taiwan is built with steel and reinforced concrete to make the building more able to withstand earthquakes. It includes a damping device in the building design which allows seismic energy to be absorbed in an earthquake, reducing the chances of collapse.
What are the success and limitations of infrastructure and building design?
Effective building design can reduce the likelihood of buildings collapse and minimize the damage caused by earthquakes. Past earthquake events have demonstrated the using this technology, fewer lives are lost, faster rescue and evacuations and less money spent on recovery for the affected areas. However, such buildings and infrastructure are costly to build and maintain and can be untested until earthquakes occur. It may also be costly to convert existing buildings.
How are emergency drills used to prepare for earthquakes?
Emergency drills are a form of preparedness measure where people practice the steps to take when an earthquake occurs. Every year on September 1st, Japan conducts emergency drills to simulate the occurrence of an eathquake of high magnitude. This is to prepare the people mentally on how to react to a disaster.
What are the success and limitations of emergency drills?
Emergency drills create awareness and reduces panic in people when an earthquake strikes by ensuring that people know what to do in the event of an emergency. However these drills are based on the scale and magnitude of past events and therefore emergency scenario might not be realistic if a more powerful earthquakes strikes the area.
How are earthquake monitoring (Technology) and warning systems used to prepare for earthquakes?
Earthquake sensors can be installed in earthquake prone areas. These help to monitor the frequency of vibrations and help to detect large earthquakes. When large earthquakes are detected, announcements can be sent out to the general public warning them of the impending earthquake. Japan has the most advanced earthquake early-warning system in the world. It detects tremors, calculated and earthquake’s epicenter and sends out brief warnings from its 1,000-plus seismographs scattered throughout the country.
What are the success and limitations of earthquake monitoring and warning systems (Technology)?
If scientist determine that an earthquake is imminent, people can be evacuated from high-risk areas, emergency services can be placed on high alert to reduce the number of casualties. However, these systems are costly to install and use there is a possibility of false alarms as these systems are subjected to interference by lightning or loud noises. There is also very little time for response as these systems do not give enough time for evacuations to take place.
How are Tsunami monitoring and warning systems (Technology) used to prepare for Tsunamis?
Tsunami monitoring devices help predict tsunamis. This usually consists of a network of pressure sensors, seismographs and deep ocean tsunami detectors. These are used to monitor and forecast the path of tsunamis. Theses are linked to warning systems to warn people about incoming tsunamis. For example, networks of seismographs and deep ocean tsunami detectors and located in Hawaii to monitor and forecast path of tsunamis.
What are the success and limitations of tsunami monitoring and warning systems (Technology)?
If scientist determine that a tsunami in imminent, people can be evacuated from high-risk areas, emergency services can be placed on high alert to reduce the number of casualties. However, these systems are costly to install and use. There is a possibility of false alarms as these systems are subjected to interference by storm waves. There is also little time for response as the system do not give enough time for mass evacuations to take place.
How is the search and rescue of casualties used to respond to earthquakes in the short term?
People may be trapped in buildings that may have collapsed. They have to be quickly located and freed. After the Tohoku earthquake in Japan (2011), sniffer dogs and heat sensors were deployed to locate the free many people who were trapped under rubble.
What are the success and limitations of the search and rescue of casualties?
People who are trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings can be located and rescued quickly. However, rescuers only have limited time to save people, as people are unlikely to survive trapped with good or water after 72 hours.
How is the provision of medical aid, food and water used to respond to earthquakes in the short term?
Injured people have to be treated so that they do not succumb to their injuries and clean drinking water has to be provided to prevent dehydration and spread of diseases like cholera. After the earthquake in Turkey in 2002, the Turkish Red Cresent Society immediately responded by delivering huge numbers of tents, blankets and heaters to the affected regions.
What are the success and limitations of the provision of medical aid, food and water?
The emergency supplies help survivors cope with the disaster and carry on with their lives. The emergency supplies may not be sufficient, as countries may not have the means to provide extensive aid to all affected areas. This can lead to social unrest such as fighting over supplies and looting of supply depots.
How is the rebuilding of infrastructure and buildings used to respond to earthquakes in the long term?
Infrastructure and amenities are rebuilt and improved after a disaster. For example, after the earthquake in Kobe, Japan in 1995, Japan spent millions of dollars developing technology to build more earthquake-resistant buildings.
