Tectonics EQ3 Flashcards
Why has number of disasters increased significantly since 1960?
Increased population: more people likely impacted by
Increased monitoring and reporting means more are recorded
What has happened to number of tectonic disasters?
Fluctuated but generally remained steady
Earthquakes increased slightly but due to dense population it affects more people
What has happened to number of people affected?
It’s increased as population increased
More people living in prone regions
Development level slightly reduces number
What has happened to the number of deaths?
Decreased since 1960
Fluctuates- magnitude, location, level of development
Decreased because: increased building design, increased preparation, increased education and warning systems
What has happened to the level of economic impacts?
Economic cost has increased, increased development increases cost of repairs and rebuild
Increased wealth = more possessions meaning more property damage
What are the problems with data about disasters?
Cannot tell if they are primary or secondary effects that caused deaths
Remote areas often go unrecorded
Subject to political bias
Hard to collect during disaster
What are the problems with data about disasters?
Cannot tell if they are primary or secondary effects that caused deaths
Remote areas often go unrecorded
Subject to political bias
Hard to collect during disaster
What is a multiple hazard zone?
Regions or parts of the world that are exposed to a range of hazards
Examples of multiple hazard zones
Philippines: western edge of ring of fire on convergent boundary (earthquakes + volcanoes), vulnerable to tsunamis as in western pacific
What is a mega-disaster?
A high magnitude, high impact, infrequent disaster that affects several countries directly or indirectly
Example of mega disaster
Icelandic eruption
Disruption for several weeks
No flights to Europe with fresh food
Airlines lost over 100 million per day
Why can earthquakes not be predicted?
Only area of high risk can be identified as not got the technology
Seismic gaps suggest it could happen in the near future
How can volcanoes be predicted?
Measure changes in tilt as ground rises as magma chamber fills
Gas monitoring
Help create minimal impacts of have time to react
Can earthquakes be forecasted?
Yes- they travel along fault lines so could forecast where it is next meant to occur not very accurate tho
Can volcanic eruptions be forecasted?
Yes but exact magnitude is hard to forecast
Geological evidence provides type and extent of future eruptions
What is the aim of the park response curve
To show the effects of a hazard on the quality of life over a sequence of time
