tectonic hazards Flashcards
what is a natural hazard
a natural process which could cause death, injury or disruption to humans, or destroy property and possessions
destructive plate margins
-2 plates move together
-the oceanic plate is subducted under a continental plate and destroyed, creating volcanoes and ocean trenches
-where 2 continental plats meet, the ground folds upwards creating mountains
constructive plate margins
-2 plates move away from each other, magma rises to fill the gaps and cools, forming new crust
-volcanoes are caused when magma rises into the gap created
conservative plate margins
-2 plates move past each other sideways, or in the same direction but at different speeds
-tension builds up when the plates grind past each other, causing earthquakes
where do volcanoes occur
destructive and constructive plate margins
where do earthquakes occur
destructive, constructive and conservative plate margins
primary effects of an earthquake
-property destroyed
-people injured and killed
-ports, bridges, roads and railways damaged
-pipes and electrical cables damaged
secondary effects of an earthquake
-businesses reduced and money spent repairing damage, economy slows
-blocked transport infrastructure hinders emergency services
-broken gas pipes and fallen electricity cables cause fires
-burst water pipes lead to lack of clean water and waterborne diseases
primary effects of volcanic eruptions
-pyroclastic and lava flows destroy property and farmland
-people and livestock injured and killed
-air travel halted
-water supplies contaminated
secondary effects of a volcanic eruption
-economy slows
-emergency services struggle to travel
-ice melts causing flooding
-ash breaks down, forming fertile land
immediate responses to tectonic hazards
-issue warnings
-rescue teams
-provide shelter, food and drink
-recover bodies
-extinguish fires
long-term responses to tectonic hazards
-repair and rebuild properties and transport
-improve building regulations
-restore utilities
-resettle locals elsewhere
-increase monitoring technology
what and when was L’Aquila, Italy
earthquake in 2009, HIC
what and when was Gorka, Nepal
earthquake in 2015, LIC
L’Aquila primary effects
-308 killed, 1500 injured
-$11,434 million damage
-67,500 homeless
-10,000-15,000 buildings collapsed
L’Aquila secondary effects
-landslides and rock fall
-mudflow caused by burst water pipe
-house prices increased
Gorka primary effects
-8,841 died, 16,800 injured
-$5 billion damage
-1 million homeless
-7,000 schools destroyed
Gorka secondary effects
-landslides and avalanches killed 19 on mt. Everest
-rice seed ruined, food shortages and income loss
-blocked roads slowed aid
L’Aquila immediate responses
-10,000 sheltered in hotels and 40,000 tents given
-7 dog search units
-free mobile calls
-$552.9 million raised
L’Aquila long-term responses
-no taxes in 2010
-university fees waived
-free public transport
Gorka immediate responses
-international help requested
-500,000 tents provided
-field hospitals set up
-Facebook launched safety feature
Gorka long-term responses
-$274 million aid money
-lake sand river valleys cleared of landslide material
-stricter building controls enforced
why do people live at risk from tectonic hazards (economic)
-geothermal energy
-farming nutrient rich soil
-tourism provides jobs
-cheaper to stay
why do people live at risk from tectonic hazard (social)
-near friends and family
-the threat may not be great enough
-confidence in buildings keeping them safe
monitoring volcanic eruptions
-tiltmeter monitors changes in shape of ground
-seismometers measure earthquakes near magma chamber
-thermal heat sensors measure ground and river temp
prediction volcanic eruptions
-easier to predict than earthquakes as the normally gives signs before erupting
protection volcanic eruptions
-buildings cannot be designed to protect against eruptions
-evacuation instructed by authorities
planning volcanic eruptions
-evacuation
-exclusion zones
-education
-first aid training
monitoring earthquakes
-foreshocks measured with seismometers
-radon using radon detecting devices
predicting earthquakes
-very difficult to predict time, date and location
protection earthquakes
-building and transport infrastructure design, expensive
-sea walls in case of tsunamis
planning earthquakes
-practice drills
-preparing emergency supplies
-securing objects/furniture
