Tectonics Gateway 3 Flashcards
Prepared measures to mitigating and responding to the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis: Land use regulations
Point: Land use regulations
Elaboration: Land use regulations are rules thar restrict developments in certain areas that have been deemed to be at greater risk to damage from earthquakes.
Example: E.g. California, all new building developments are not built across fault lines or areas at risk of liquefaction. Also along the coasts of Japan and North America, construction of new buildings is not permitted on low-lying areas in case of tsunamis.
Success: Damage to property and the danger posed to human lives are minimised
Limitations: However, these measures may be costly as many of these areas may already be populated and governments would have to compensate those already living there. Also, existing owners might be reluctant to give up land and move as they feel that another earthquake may not occur in their lifetime.
Prepared measures to mitigating and responding to the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis: Infrastructure and building design
Point: Infrastructure and building design
Elaboration: Infrastructure needs to be developed with advanced engineering to withstand the shocks associated with earthquakes. Using effective building designs which can reduce the chance of buildings collapsing. Roads, bridges and dams can be built to withstand earthquake shocks or made to be more easily repaired. Buildings can be fitted trip switches to ensure all electrical points are switched off in an earthquake to prevent fires from breaking out.
Example: Taipei 101, a building in Taiwan is built with steel and reinforced concrete to make the building more able to withstand earthquakes. It includes a damping device in the building design allow seismic energy to be absorbed in an earthquake, reducing the chances of collapse.
Success: Effective building design can reduce the likelihood of building collapse and have minimize the damage caused by earthquakes. Past earthquake events have demonstrated that using this technology, fewer lives are lost, faster rescue and evacuations and less money spent on recovery for the affected areas.
Limitations: However, such buildings and infrastructure are costly to build and maintain and can be untested until earthquakes occur. It may also be costly to convert existing buildings.
Prepared measures to mitigating and responding to the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis: Emergency drills
Point: Emergency drills
Elaboration: Emergency drills are a form of preparedness measure where people practice the steps to take when an earthquake occurs.
Example: Every year on September 1st, Japan conducts emergency drills to simulate the occurrence of an earthquake of high magnitude. This is to prepare the people mentally on how to react to a disaster.
Success: Emergency drills create awareness an reduces panic in people when an earthquake strikes by ensuring that people know what to do in the event of an emergency
Limitations: However, these drills are based on the scale and magnitude of past events and therefore emergency scenario might not be realistic if a more powerful earthquake strikes the area
Prepared measures to mitigating and responding to the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis: Use of technology: earthquake monitoring and warning systems
Point: Use of technology: earthquake monitoring and warning systems
Elaboration: Earthquake sensors can be installed in earthquake prone areas. These help to monitor the frequency of vibrations and help to detect large earthquakes. When large earthquakes are detected, announcements can be sent out to the general public warning them of the impending earthquake.
Example: Japan has the most advanced early-warning system in the world. It detects tremors, calculates an earthquake’s epicenter and sends out brief warnings from its 1,000-plus seismographs scattered throughout the country.
Success: If scientists determine that an earthquake is imminent, people can be evacuated from high-risk areas, emergency services can be placed on high alert to reduce the number of casualties.
Limitations: However, these systems are costly to install and use. There is a possibility of false alarms as these systems are subjected to interference by lighting or loud noises. There is also very little time for response (usually less than a few minutes), as the systems do not give enough time for evacuations to take place.
Prepared measures to mitigating and responding to the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis: Use of technology: Tsunami monitoring and warning systems
Point: Use of technology: Tsunami monitoring and warning systems
Elaboration: Tsunami monitoring devices help predict tsunamis. This usually consist of a network of pressure sensors, seismographs and deep ocean tsunami detectors. These are used to monitor and forecast the path of tsunamis. These are linked to warning systems to warn people about incoming tsunamis
Example: E.g. network of seismographs and deep ocean tsunami detectors are located in Hawaii to monitor and forecast path of tsunamis.
Success: If scientists determine that a tsunami is imminent, people can be evacuated from high-risk areas, emergency service can be placed on high alert to reduce the number of casualties
Limitations: However, these systems are costly to install and use. There is a possibility of false alarms as these systems are subjected to interference by storm waves. There is also little time for response (usually around 15 minutes), as the systems do not give enough time for mass evacuations to take place.
Short term responses to earthquakes: Searching for and rescuing casualties
Point: Searching for and rescuing casualties
Elaboration: People may be trapped in buildings that may have collapsed. They have to be quickly located and freed.
Example: After the Tohoku earthquake in Japan (2011), sniffer dogs and heat sensors were deployed to locate and free many people who were trapped under rubble
Success: People who are trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings can be located and rescued quickly.
Limitations: Rescuers only have limited time to save people, as people are unlikely to survive trapped without food or water after 72 hours.
Short term responses to earthquakes: Providing medical aid, food and water
Point: Providing medical aid, food and water
Elaboration: Injured people have to be treated so that they do not succumb to their injuries and clean drinking water has to be provided to prevent dehydration and the spread of diseases like cholera.
Example: After the earthquake in Turkey in 2002, the Turkish Red Crescent Society immediately responded by delivering huge numbers of tents, blankets and heaters to the affected regions.
Success: The emergency supplies help survivors cope with the disaster and carry on with their lives.
Limitations: The emergency supplies may not be sufficient, as countries may not have the means to provide extensive aid to all affected areas. This can lead to social unrest such as fighting over supplies and looting of supply depots.
Long term responses to earthquakes: Rebuilding of infrastructure and buildings
Point: Rebuilding of infrastructure and buildings
Elaboration: Infrastructure and amenities are rebuilt and improved after a disaster.
Example: After the earthquake in Kobe, Japan in 1965, Japan spent millions of dollars developing technology to build more earthquake-resistant buildings
Success: Stricter building codes ensure higher safety levels in the event of future earthquakes.
Limitations: Not fully protected from all kinds of tectonic hazard, like tsunamis, especially if the buildings are found along the coast. Not possible for all countries, especially less developed countries due to high cost of technology.
Long term responses to earthquakes: Provision of health care
Point: Provision of health care
Elaboration: By providing long term counselling to people who have lost loved ones, homes or jobs. Also to people who have been injured in the earthquake.
Example: Even a year after the earthquake in Christchurch in 2011, people of all age groups were still suffering from problems of anxiety and depression. This required a greater number of health care workers being deplyed in the area.
Success: This helped injured victims or psychologically disturbed victims restore their livelihoods.
Limitations: This may be challenging to implement due to lack of resources because of the need to deal with other needs such as providing basic necessities, rebuilding and stimulating the economy.
