Management of tectonic hazards and disasters Flashcards
What is the current trend in number of recorded hazards and deaths in the last 50 years?
The number of recorded hazards has, by in large, increased - however the number of deaths overall has decreased.
Compare and contrast how widespread were the E17 eruption’s and Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami impacts.
The eruption of E17 sent an ash plume across Europe, paralysis global air traffic for days. More than 100,000 journeys by plane were cancelled, the worst air traffic disruption since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Though, E17 caused no deaths.
E17’s eruption meant that imports and exports out of Europe were greatly reduced, and produce in other countries wilted. 25% of the UK’s trade value comes in by air.
Car manufacturing was also impacted, a critical sensor produced in Ireland couldn’t arrive in Nissan factories in Japan.
The world bank estimates that the losses from rotting-food may have cost African nations $65m.
The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami generated much more obvious and frightening impacts, with the event claiming 15,000+ dead. The event eroded the trust between the Japanese people and the government’s nuclear energy policies due to Fukushima.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was overrun by salt water, causing it to loose power and the power plant’s cooling pools heated rapidly and causing radioactive releases - sending contaminated water across the Pacific ocean.
Worldwide prices of LNG were affected due to Japan’s sudden increase in demand, the biggest impacts were seen on Asian markets.
The Fukushima incident caused global scepticism of nuclear energy, and combined with Chernobyl has lead to the public disapproval of the energy-attainment method, as such, Germany closed all its nuclear power plants and Italy is in the process of closing theirs.
What are ‘multiple hazard zones’?
Areas that are at risk of more than one time of natural hazard. A good example is Taiwan, which regularly sees Typhoons, earthquakes and the occasional tsunami, Taiwan is listed as the most vulnerable country for natural hazards according to the Red Cross.
The UK is not a multiple hazard zone, but is very often subject to violent extra-tropical winter storms, such as Eunice and Ciara.
Compare and contrast the multiple-hazard geography of The Philippines and California, USA.
Volcanoes - California: No onshore volcanoes, very little risk
Philippines: Very common; Pinatubo, Mayon. Frequent,
violent eruptions.
Earthquakes - California: Frequent, shallow quakes, mostly low mag.
Philippines: Subduction zone, frequent and strong.
Landslides - California: Frequent, associated with quakes, heavy rain
and coastal erosion.
Philippines: Frequent, often deadly, typhoon-linked.
Cyclones - California: Never occur here.
Philippines: Very common, violent and often deadly.
Drought - California: Common and prolonged.
Philippines: Rarer, but occasional in El Niño years.
Describe the shape of Park’s disaster model.
Stage 1 - Normality: Straight line before a hazard
Stage 2 - Hazard event: Steep decline (deterioration)
Stage 3 - Immediate response: Search, rescue and care
Stage 4 - Relief and recovery: International aid, reconstruction - improvement
Stage 5 - Full recovery: Improvement beyond Stage 1 normality after years.
Give an example of how a tectonic hazard can be modified.
Earthquakes: Earthquake proof buildings, upgrading of critical services that will be stretched thin during a disaster: Hospitals, police, fire, search and rescue.
Tsunamis: Mangrove forests in tropical regions to reduce wave impacts and reduce coastal flooding from a tsunami wave, and from generic storm surges and erosion.
Volcanoes: Seawater sprayed onto lava to cool it down and slow is spread in Iceland.
How does aid change within 24 hours, 48 hours, a week and 3 months of an event?
After the first 24 hours of a disaster occurring we tend to see governments of affected countries reaching out for international support, emergency shelters and food stores set up, data and maps published and online crowdfunding and awareness raising.
After the first 48 hours of a disaster occurring we tend to see the first deliveries of international aid, telecom experts drafted to restore communications, initial response plans, priority targeting and emergency operations centres set up.
After the first week of a disaster occurring we tend to see set ups of aid transport channels, growth of appeal funds and continued international awareness and food and water purchasing.
After the first three months of a disaster occurring we tend to see monitoring systems for distributions, combatting of disease and malnutrition, clean up efforts, rebuilding plans and retrieval of the dead.
