Tectonics Case Studies Flashcards
Why was Haiti more vulnerable to earthquakes than other countries?
It is a developing country:
- weak buildings
- corrupt governments meant building regulations weren’t stuck to
- lack of investment in earthquake preparations due to more immediate threats such as disease
- high population density in cities
- lack of coordination in emergency services
What was the death toll for the Haiti 2010 earthquake?
250,000
What were the social impacts of Haiti 2010?
- 250,000 dead
- 1.3 million made homeless
- livelihoods destroyed
- mental impacts
What were the economic impacts of Haiti 2010?
- cost $14 billion
- businesses destroyed
- cholera outbreak led to a reduction in productivity
What were the environmental impacts of Haiti 2010?
- contamination of water supplies, leading to cholera outbreak.
- rubble and waste
What is the pressure and release model?
A model to determine how vulnerable a country is to a hazard.
It follows the progression of vulnerability.
root causes -> dynamic pressures -> unsafe conditions
e.g.
A poor country (root cause) will not spend money on enforcing building codes (dynamic pressure), which leads to poorly built buildings (unsafe conditions.
How effective was the response to Haiti 2010?
- five years after, Haiti was still recovering
- received $13 billion international aid, which was poorly spent due to concerns over corrupt governments.
- aid was spent by independent organisations in a way which hampered Haiti’s ability to become self sufficient.
- 80,000 still living in temporary housing by 2015
Name the prime example of a multiple hazard zone for tectonics?
The Philippines
8/10 most at risk cities from natural hazards in the world were in the Philippines
What makes the Philippines so at risk from tectonics?
Multiple hazard zone
- Sits across a major convergent plate boundary so is at risk from both volcanoes and earthquakes
- North and east coast face the pacific ocean which is the most tsunami prone ocean
What other factors make the Philippines at risk? (not tectonic)
- steep topography, high levels of deforestation and high amounts of precipitation means landslides are common
- lies within a major typhoon belt
- subject to monsoon rains
Human
-quick development has led to rapid urbanisation and high population density
- many of the countries poor live in coastal areas, where hazards are made worse by poorly constructed housing and infrastructure
- 25% live in poverty
What tectonic event happened in 2004?
The Indian ocean boxing day earthquake and tsunami.
What were the key facts about the 2004 indian ocean earthquake?
- Earthquake had a magnitude of 8-8.9 on Richter scale.
- Hypocentre depth of 10km below sea level.
- Destructive boundary between the Indo-Australian plate.
What were the key social impacts of the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami?
-Total death toll estimated at 228,000.
1.7 million were left homeless or displaced
.
-Widespread destruction; sewage, no clean water, disease, infrastructure demolished.
-Loss of tourism, many residents refuse to ever return.
What were the key economic impacts of the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami?
- Communication links destroyed, relief aid was not easily reached.
- Port and airport damage reduces transport/accessibility.
- Loss of infrastructure/government pay out for victims.
- Many local businesses were destroyed, unemployment
What were they key environmental impacts of the 2004 Indian tsunami?
-
Sewage/debris spread disease/injury.
Toxic gases/fumes/electricity lines were released causing fires.
-
Land became infertile, habitats and wildlife were wiped out.
-
Crops and yield were completely Destroyed.
