Natural Hazards Flashcards
Where did the Japan earthquake occur?
some 80 miles east of the city of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture.
Which type of plate boundary did the Japan earthquake occur on?
Convergent plate boundary
Key facts about the Japan earthquake!
Date: 11 March 2011
Magnitude: 5.9
Deaths: approximately 20,000
Damaged (cost): $220 Billion USD
What were the primary effects of the Japan earthquake?
Ports and airports destroyed.
Tsunami sea walls destroyed.
Three-storey buildings destroyed.
What were the secondary effects of the Japan earthquake?
Food supply affected.
Shipping was distrupted due to closing of ports.
Commuting and travel was affected due to damage to transport links.
What were three short term responses of the Japan earthquake?
Establishing medical stations to treat the injured.
Immediate search and rescue operations.
Temporary housing.
What were long term responses of the Japan earthquake?
Implementing stricter building codes.
Disaster preparedness.
Reconstruction efforts to rebuild infrastructure
Japan had a stronger earthquake, why were their impacts less severe?
Due to Japan’s strict building codes and advanced earthquake-resistant infrastructure, the impacts of a stronger earthquake were less severe.
Haiti had a weaker earthquake, why were their impacts less severe?
Due to Haiti’s less robust infrastructure and limited resources for disaster preparedness, the impacts of a weaker earthquake were still significant in comparison to Japan’s more resilient structures.
Three reasons why people choose to live in hazardous areas despite knowing the risks.
Economic constraints.
Cultural or emotional attachment to location.
Lack of alternative housing options in safer areas.
Explain what prediction is and whether it is useful to earthquakes.
Trying to predict earthquakes means attempting to anticipate their occurrence before they happen, but it’s not very reliable. Monitoring, preparedness, and early warning systems are more useful in reducing their impact.
Explain how we can protect ourselves from an earthquake.
To protect ourselves from earthquakes, it’s essential to practice safety measures like creating an emergency plan, securing heavy furniture and objects, staying informed about earthquake risks, and participating in drills and training sessions to know what to do during an earthquake.
Explain how we can plan for an earthquake.
To plan for an earthquake, make an emergency plan, have supplies ready, and practice drills to be prepared.
What are the benefits of prediction, protection and planning?
Predicting earthquakes can help in early warning, protection measures like securing furniture can prevent injuries, and planning ensures readiness and coordination in case of an earthquake, reducing its impact.
