Tectonics Flashcards
Hawaii
Series of volcanic islands as a result of hotspot created by a mantle plume, hotspot remains stationary as the tectonic plate moves above it
Key Factors in Japan, 2011
9.1 magnitude
Approx. 20,000 dead
Large tsunami cause problems
Coast dropped by about 1m - rendering the tsunami walls ineffective
Ageing population - significant amount of the deaths were aged 65+
Lack of time to evacuate before tsunami hit
Hard to predict where the tsunami would hit
Technology/tsunami walls gave a false sense of security and protection - evacuation was slower in places with tsunami walls
High capacity to cope - wealthy and well prepared with a quick response BUT the disaster was too unpredictable
Key Factors in Sichuan, 2008
7.9 magnitude
approx. 87000 dead
Buildings collapsed and pancaked
4.8 million left homeless
1.5 million houses destroyed
Ageing population
Construction of a large dam may have exacerbated the risk of an earthquake - rapid development lead to higher demand so dam built in 2004 - extra pressure on tectonic plate
HOWEVER, $135 billion spent on rebuilding homes and buildings in Sichuan - earthquake in 2013 led to zero buildings collapsing so shown signs of fast and well built buildings as a result of the previous disaster.
Key Factors in Nepal 2015
9,000 deaths
22,000 injured
$10 billion in damage
Key Factors in Haiti 2010
Magnitude 7
230,000 deaths
6900 more died from a cholera outbreak
1.3 million homeless
Key infrastructure destroyed - 8 hospitals destroyed in the capital
$8 billion cost
Lack of training or evacuation planning by the government
Already recovering from a hurricane in 2008
Little capacity to cope as governance is low and there was a lack of education on how to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake
Lots live closely together in slums with no earthquake resistant design
Poor urban planning - No land ownership so hard to designate an area to use for a camp for those who were displaced - ended up on rubbish dump which lead to contamination and spread of cholera
Problems with government corruption as large proportions of aid didn’t reach those effected by the earthquake
Key Factors in Nevado del Ruiz 1985
Volcanic Eruption
23,000 dead
Cost $7.7 billion
Large lahar caused by the melting of glaciers
Armero hit worst by the lahar
Monitored heavily by scientists showing importance of monitoring the event as it was effective - warned the government
Response was not effective as the mayor cancelled the evacuation
3400ha of farmland was lost - economic problem
Key infrastructure destroyed - roads, schools, hospitals and communications
Key Factors in Iceland 2010
Volcanic eruption
Happened under a glacier - so caused a large column of ash
Ash travelled as far as Kenya
Caused a no fly zone (airlines losing £130 million a day), crops were destroyed, sporting events cancelled
No deaths
Highly monitored
Efficient and effective evacuation
Community well educated
Developed nation with a higher capacity to cope
Most at risk were tourists as they’re the most unaware of the consequences and dangers surrounding an eruption
Lots of economic losses for farmers as crops ready to be exported, sat rotting instead as they could not be transported elsewhere
Key Factors in Montserrat 1995-97
Volcanic eruption - continuous
Developing nation so couldn’t afford to put measures in place to prevent hazards from developing
Devastated by pyroclastic flows and lahars
Efficient evacuation - 11,000 evacuated
19 died as they stayed back to save crops
Only hospital was destroyed
Unemployment rose from 7% to 50%
Loss of all key infrastructure including government
Collapse of tourist industry
Key Factors in Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004
9.1magnitude
Sea bed rose 15m
12 countries effected
228,000 deaths
Outbreak of cholera
