Paper 1- Tectonic hazards Quakes + Volcanoes Flashcards
Why do people live in volcanic/ earthquake prone areas despite the risks
Economic reasons: e.g. fertile soils, mineral deposits, geothermal energy, opportunities for tourist industry
Social reasons: either tradition, social marginalisation or lack of awareness of risk
Perception is that the benefits outway the risks
Managing the volcano hazard
Monitoring volcanoes in order to predict
create exclusion zones and evacuation plans
Equip and train emergency services
Educate the populace
Map and identify the most hazardous areas around a volcano and apply zoning rules to prevent construction
Study past eruptions to better understand the hazards of a specific volcano
Methods of volcano monitoring
ground deformation, hydrology gas, geophysical measurements, remote sensing, seismicity
What is necessary for a successful evacuation
An aware and educated public, Reliable prediction and warning systems
Escape routes
Management of the evacuation
Emergency shelters
Speedy recovery relies upon
Access to emergency aid
resources to rebuild
A high level of insurance cover in the society
immediate responses to a volcanic eruption
evacuation, provision of shelter, disaster relief etc
long-term response involves reconstruction of infrastructure and change in land use around volcano e.g. Mt Sy Helens designated as a national monument after 1980 eruption. development aid + training, education for sustainable development
Managing the Earthquake hazard
total hazard impact = magnitude of earthquake + vulnerability of people
short + long term responses
Reduce vulnerability to earhtquakes with:
Improved building construction: asymmetric design
Earthquake zoning
City planning and emergency procedures
better public understanding of earth quake hazard
E.g 2010 Haiti compared with Christchurch less impact
What are the precursors that have been used to attempt earthquake prediction
Crustal movements (tilt meters)
Foreshock (minor tremors with seimograph)
Gas Emissions
Changes in the water table height
Increases in Electrical conductivity
Why is it impossible to reliably predict earthquakes
Can be any combination of precursor or none
Predictions remain imprecise
Scientists can only give warnings based on prbabilities of occurance
Why do LICs experience higher deaths and damage than developed countries?
Quality of building is inferior
Infrastructure is more easily damaged
Emergency services are fewer and not as well equiped
LIC governments have little money available for disaster relief and have to often rely on foreign aid
