Seismic Hazards: Tohoku, Japan Major hazard event Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the tectonic setting of Japan?

A

At a destructive plate boundary, the Pacific plate subducts beneath the Eurasian plate and North American plate.

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2
Q

What were the causes of the seismic hazard?

A

The Pacific plate slipped upwards between 5-10 metres so the North American plate was subducted. This caused a large volume of sea water to be displaced.

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3
Q

What were the primary (direct) hazards of the seismic hazard?

A
  • The tsunami surged up to 10km inland
  • The earths axis shifted at least 10cm
  • Scientists estimate that 10 billion tonnes of water hit NE Japan
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4
Q

What were the secondary (indirect) hazards of the seismic hazard?

A
  • 800 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 were recorded following the main earthquake.
  • some coastal areas experienced land subsidence where the land dropped by more than 50cm in some areas.
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5
Q

What were the social impacts of the seismic hazard?

A
  • 18,000 people dead or missing
  • 127,000 buildings destroyed
  • Ground shaking caused buildings to collapse and caused petrol pipes to be broken.
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6
Q

What were the economic impacts of the seismic hazard?

A
  • Total damages from the earthquake and tsunami of $220 billion.
  • Overall insurance losses were $47 billion.
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7
Q

What were the environmental impacts of the seismic hazard?

A
  • An area of 500 sq km was flooded
  • Lots of pollution up to 6 miles inland.
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8
Q

What were the political impacts of the seismic hazard?

A
  • The Fukushima nuclear disaster caused panic selling across the global stock market.
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9
Q

How did the tsunami hazard occur?

A
  • The tsunami was caused by the huge displacement of water, caused by the earthquake.
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10
Q

What were the short term responses to the seismic hazard?

A
  • 100,000 soldiers mobilized to organise rescue work and provide emergency relief.
  • The government shut down the majority of Japanese nuclear power plants, this resulted in Japan’s energy mix being adapted.
  • The Japanese Red Cross received £1.5 billion in foreign donations (aid relief).
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11
Q

What were the long term responses to the seismic hazard?

A
  • In 2013, Japan upgraded their tsunami warning system.
  • The World Bank analysed the responses 10 years on and produced a report.
  • Residential houses and commercial buildings built near a sea wall at a port in Mijako.
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