Tohoku Earthquake, Japan - Case Study 1 Flashcards
Where is Japan located that gives it a high tectonic activity level and why does it receive high tectonic activity?
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire
4 tectonic plates meet and subduction gives rise to intense volcanic activity and earthquakes
What is Japan’s population profile?
worlds oldest population
1/4 of population over 65
total population 127 million
population density 349km^2
What is the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)?
carries outs observations and monitoring of a range of natural hazards
issues advanced warnings to the public and organisations
What are the measures that Japan uses to mitigate vulnerability?
Strict building code - Aseismic Design
Land Use Zoning - Open spaces available for people to regroup after an earthquake
Refugee sites - emergency aid is stockpiled
UREDAS - All bullet trains fitted with P wave detection technology
Coastal protection - Against Tsunamis
What is the Pacific Tsunami warning centre (PTWC)?
network of buoys across pacific ocean which are connected to earthquake detection equipment on the sea bed
What and when is the annual Disaster Prevention day?
1st September
Weeklong series of events designed and funded by the government and aimed at empowering people so the feel confident about how to react to an earthquake
What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
9Mw
What were the three disasters that came from the earthquake?
Earthquake
Tsunami
Radioactive explosion from Fukushima
What were the social impacts of the earthquake? (7 points)
20,000 died and 6000 injured
90% deaths due to drowning
95% building destroyed and 500,000 people made homeless
1 person in California was killed by the tsunami
30 homes destroyed by liquefaction
In Fukushima >200,000 residents evacuated and 20km exclusion zone enforced
What were the economic impacts of the earthquake?
Cost of the earthquake was $181 billion
3.5% fall in GDP
Fukushima explosion led to energy crisis
Reduced soil fertility from thick deposits of mud, sand and seawater contamination
1000 miles of rail destroyed
Tsunami waves affected the coast of California and Oregon and caused damage of $10m
What were the political impacts of the earthquake?
Protests on nuclear energy led to the government shutting down all power plants for safety checks
Switzerland, Spain and Italy confirmed their anti-nuclear stance after the accident
What were the short term responses to the earthquake?
Within 30 minutes of the earthquake 11 military aircraft had responded
JSDF moved in on the ground and within two days and all debris had been cleared
163 countries offered assistance
Bodies buried quickly
452,000 people were in evacuation shelters within days of the disaster
20km evacuation zone put around Fukushima
What were the long term responses to the earthquake?
Priority was to rebuild infrastructure
Within a fortnight of the earthquake the Tohoku Expressway was repaired and re-opened
Sendai Airport repaired by JSDF and US army within 3 weeks of earthquake
A month after the earthquake the government set up the Reconstruction Design Council to plan a long term strategy to ensure development of a stronger economy
Within 6 months 96% of electricity resorted, 98% of the water water supply restored, 99% of the landline network had been restored
What preparedness measures were successful?
The Japanese Earthquake Early Warning system provided up to 90 seconds’ warning of the earthquakes for residents in Tokyo
Within 2 seconds the bullet trains were stopped due to the p wave detection systems
70% buildings fitted with aseismic techniques suffered no/little damage and building collapse amounted to 0.5% of deaths
Due to the education children and families knew exactly what to do and it saved 3000 children
What preparedness measures failed?
