Topic 1 - Hazardous Earth

Question 1

Low pressure

Answer 1

The air rises and cools, condenses and forms clouds. This means that there is rain and it’s unstable.

Question 2

High pressure

Answer 2

The air is sinking which means that there is clear sky and no rain and it’s stable.

Question 3

Weather at different parts of the planet?

Answer 3

1 (on the equator) = This area is very hot and very wet.
2 = This area is very hot and very dry. Dessert.
3 = This area is mild (not to hot or cold) and wet. Temperature, mid latitudes.
4 = This area is very cold and very dry. North Pole, Polar climate.

Question 4

Why does the sun heat the Earth’s surface unevenly?

Answer 4

• The earth receives most radiation on the equator where it is hottest compared to the poles where it is coldest.
• The equator receives the most radiation because the sun rays hit the surface a right angle.
• At the poles, the curvature of the earth means that the angle is much lower which means they have to heat up a much larger area.
• At the poles the atmosphere is thicker so the radiation has to get through a bigger atmosphere.

Question 5

How do winds transfer heat from the equator to the poles?

Answer 5

• The differences in temperature cause differences in air pressure.
• Winds blow from the areas of high pressure to the areas of low pressure.
• The earth is constantly rotating and deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
• This transfers heat away from the equator.

Question 6

What are the 3 cells in each Hemisphere?

Answer 6

Polar Cell
Ferrel Cell
Hadley Cell

Question 7

Global atmospheric circulation

Answer 7

1) At the equator the sun warms the earth, which transfers heat to the air above, causing it to rise. This creates a low pressure belt. As the air rises, it cools and condenses forming clouds and rains.
2) The cool, dry air moves out to 30° north and south of the equator.
3) At 30° north and south of the equator, the cool air sinks, creating a high pressure belt with cloudless skies and very low rainfall.
4) The cool air reaches the ground surface and moves back to the equator as trade winds.
Rising air cannot hold as much moisture that’s why there is more precipitation on the equator.
5) At 60° North and South of the equator, the warmer surface winds meet colder air from the poles. The warmer air is less dense than the cold air so it is forced to rise, creating low pressure.
6) Some of the air moves back to the equator, and the rest moves towards the poles.
7) At the poles the cool air sinks, creating high pressure.

Question 8

Ocean currents

Answer 8

Ocean currents are large scale movements of water that transfer heat energy from warmer to cooler regions

1) Some ocean currents are powered by winds resulting from the atmospheric circulation cells.
2) Others are powered by density differences due to differences in water temperature and salinity.
3) In the Arctic and Antarctic, the water gets very cold. This cold, salty dense water sinks.
4) As it sinks, warmer water from other laititudes is pulled in.
5) This is cooled to by the polar temperature and the cycle continues.

Question 9

How does global atmospheric circulation determine the location of arid (dry) areas?

Answer 9

Sinking air from the Hadley and Ferrel cells meeting causes high pressure and prevents rainfall. Rainfall is very slow for all or most of the year. Temperatures are hot or warm.

Question 10

How does global atmospheric circulation determine the location of tropical areas?

Answer 10

Rising air from the 2 Hadley cells meeting causes low pressure and lots of rainfall. Temperatures are hot all the time and rainfall is high.

Question 11

How does global atmospheric circulation determine the location of polar areas?

Answer 11

Sinking air from the Polar cells creates an area of high pressure at the poles. Temperatures are low all year round and there’s very little rainfall.

Question 12

ITCZ

Answer 12

• The inter tropical convergence zone. This is where trade winds meet and air is heated so it rises.
• When air rises, it cools and condenses to form clouds and rain.
• The ITCZ migrates North in summer and South in winter. It brings the areas north and south of the equator a wet season. When it migrates away, it creates a dry season.

Question 13

What is the quaternary period?

Answer 13

• This is the most recent geological period of time spanning from 2.6 million years ago to the present day.
• In the period of time before this the Earth was warmer and stable, however then things changed.
• During the quaternary period the Earths global temperature fluctuated between Inter glacial periods (warm) and Glacial periods (cold/ice ages).
• The last Glacial period ended around 15,000 years ago since then the Earth has been warming.

Question 14

4 natural causes of climate change?

Answer 14

1. Orbital changes
2. Volcanic Activity
3. Solar output
4. Asteroid collisions

Question 15

Orbital changes

Answer 15

1) Orbital changes are variations in the way the Earth moves round the sun.
• Stretch - the path of the Earth’s orbit around the sun changes from an almost perfect circle to an eclipse (an oval) and back again.
• Tilt - the Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle as it orbits the Sun. This tilt changes over a cycle.
• Wobble - the axis of the Earth Wobbles like a spinning top on a cycle of about 22,000.
2) These cycles affect the amount of solar radiation (energy) the Earth receives. If the Earth receives more energy, it gets warmer.
3) Orbital changes may have caused the glacial and interglacial period of the Quaternary period.

Question 16

Volcanic activity

Answer 16

1) Major volcanic eruptions eject large quantities of material, e.g. ash, into the atmosphere.
2) Some of these particles reflect the Sun’s rays back out to space, so the Earth’s surface cools.

Question 17

Solar output

Answer 17

1) The suns output of energy isn’t constant.
2) Periods when solar output is reduced may cause Earth’s climate to become cooler.

Question 18

Asteroid collisions

Answer 18

1) Asteroids hitting the earths surface can throw up huge amounts of dust into the atmosphere.
2) These particles prevent the suns energy from reaching the earths surface so global temperatures fall.

Question 19

What evidence for Natural Causes of Climate Change is there?

Answer 19

1. Tree rings
2. Ice cores
3. Historical data

Question 20

Tree Rings

Answer 20

1) Most trees produce one ring within their trunks every year.
2) The thickness of the ring depends on the climate when the ring was formed - when it’s warmer the rings are thicker.
3) Scientists take cores through tree trunks then date each ring by counting them back from when the core was taken. By looking at the thickness of the rings, they can see what the climate was like each year.

Question 21

Ice cores

Answer 21

1) Ice sheets are made up of layers of ice - one layer is formed each year.
2) Scientists drill into ice sheets to get long cores of ice.
3) By analysing the gasses (e.g. carbon dioxide) trapped in the layers of the ice, they can tell what the temperature was each year.

Question 22

Historical data

Answer 22

1) Since the 1850s global temperatures have been measured accurately using thermometers. This gives a reliable but short-term record of temperature change.
2) Historical records (e.g. diaries and paintings) can extend the record of climate change a bit further back.

+ They are very detailed and can give an understanding of what the weather/climate was really like at the time. May also identify the impacts of this.
- The main drawbacks are that they were not written with the intention to record climate. Often info needs to be inferred. May be biased/exaggerated/made up. Lacks quantitative data.

Question 23

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 23

1) Solar radiation enters the atmosphere as short wave radiation. This easily passes through the atmosphere, as very little is absorbed.
2) Solar energy (radiation) is absorbed at the earths surface, and then radiates as long wave (infrared) radiation back into the atmosphere.
3) Long wave radiation is easily absorbed by the GHGs and so the heat becomes trapped, heating up the world.
4) Some long wave radiation escapes out of the atmosphere and into space.
5) Humans are releasing more greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels. This is enhancing the natural process. Carbon dioxide is the most abundant GHG in the atmosphere.

Question 24

Consequences of global warming

Answer 24

• Coastal flooding from sea level rises.
• More destruction from more frequent, stronger hurricanes.
• More droughts, longer lasting.
• More flood from more frequent, heavier precipitation.
• Biodiversity loss on land and in the oceans.
• Spread of pests and diseases.
• Changes in farming could affect food supplies.

Question 25

Human activists making the greenhouse effect stronger

Answer 25

• Farming • Industry • Energy • Transport

Question 26

Farming

Answer 26

1) Farming of livestock produces a lot of methane - cows love to fart. 2) Rice paddies contribute to global warming, because flooded fields emit methane. 3) Trees absorb and store CO2. When land is cleared of trees for agriculture it stops the absorption of CO2, which leaves more CO2 in the atmosphere.

Question 27

Industry

Answer 27

1) Most industry uses a lot of energy. 2) Some industrial processes also release greenhouse gasses. 3) Industrial waste may end up in landfill sites where it decays, releasing methane.

Question 28

Energy

Answer 28

CO2 is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are burnt.

Question 29

Transport

Answer 29

1) Most cars, lorries, ships and planes run on fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gasses when burnt. 2) Car ownership is rapidly increasing in countries which are developing. 3) This means there are more cars on the road. 4) This increases congestion. As a result, car engines are running for longer, so the amount of greenhouse gases released increases.

Question 30

Evidence that human activity is causing climate change

Answer 30

• Declining arctic ice • Sea level rise and warming oceans • Global temperature rise • Extreme weather events

Question 31

Declining Arctic ice

Answer 31

1) Sea ice forms around the poles in winter when ocean temperatures fall below -1.8°C and melts during summer when it’s warmer. 2) The extent of Arctic sea ice in winter has decreased by more than 3% each decade over the past 25 years.

Question 32

Sea level rise and warming oceans

Answer 32

There are two factors behind this rise: • Eustatic sea level rise - warmer temperatures are causing glaciers to shrink and ice sheets to melt. The melting of ice on land means that water stored on land as ice returns into the oceans. This causes sea levels to rise. • Thermal expansion - water in the ocean expands as it gets warmer. Scientists think this accounts for about half of the measured rise in sea levels.

Question 33

Extreme weather events

Answer 33

• Higher frequency of heat waves. • Fewer cold weather extremes. • In the Uk, more rainfall records where broken in 2010-2014 than in any decade on record.

Question 34

Impacts of climate change one people

Answer 34

• Deaths due to heat have increased. • Some areas could become so hot and dry that they’re difficult or impossible to inhabit. • Low lying coastal areas could be lost to the sea or flood. • Affecting farming. • Lower crop yields — > Increase malnutrition, ill health and death. • Weather is getting more extreme so more money has to be spent on predicting extreme weather events, reducing their impacts and rebuilding after them.

Question 35

Scenarios for the range of projections for global temperature change and sea level rise.

Answer 35

• Scenario 1 - minimum emissions —> This is the best outcome in which levels of greenhouse gases peak, then reduce. • Scenario 2 and 3 - Stabilising scenarios —> These are scenarios in which greenhouse gas levels continue to increase, but eventually level off (after steps are taken to reduce emissions) • Scenario 4 - Maximum emissions —> This is the worst outcome, in which the rate of production of emissions continues to increase and greenhouse gas levels end up very high.

Question 36

Why is it difficult to predict future climate change?

Answer 36

• Emissions - we don’t actually know how emissions will change. —> Preditions have to take into account things like population increase and economic development. It’s hard know how global population will change in the future or how much development will change. • Complexity - we don’t know what exact climate changes each scenario will cause. —> There are lots of natural processes that we don’t fully understand, which makes it difficult to predict what will change. We don’t know how these natural factors could have an impact on climate change. • Management - We don’t know what attempts there will be to manage the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and how successful they will be.

Question 37

Tropical cyclone distribution

Answer 37

• Located North and South of the equator. • Between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn. • Found over the oceans.

Question 38

The formation of tropical cyclones relies on 3 factors?

Answer 38

• Warm oceans (temp to exceed 26.5°) • Strong winds which draw warm air up rapidly from the ocean surface. • High humidity in the atmosphere (low pressure).

Question 39

What seasons do tropical cyclones occur in?

Answer 39

• In the Northern Hemisphere: June to November. • In the Southern Hemisphere: November to April. Atlantic off the west coast of Africa - Hurricanes Northwestern Pacific - Typhoons Southwestern Indian Ocean and southwestern pacific - Tropical cyclones

Question 40

How does the global circulation of the atmosphere lead to tropical cyclones?

Answer 40

• Warm, moist air rises and condensation occurs. This releases huge amounts of energy which makes the storms powerful. The rising air creates an area of low pressure, which increases surface winds. • The earths rotation deflects the paths of the winds, which causes the cyclone to spin. • Tropical cyclones move towards the west because of the easterly winds towards the equator. • When cyclones travel further away from the equator, their path may start to curve to the east as they get caught in the mid-latitude westerlies.

Question 41

Why do some tropical cyclones intensify?

Answer 41

Due to energy from the warm water.

Question 42

Why do some tropical cyclones dissipate?

Answer 42

When they move over land or cooler water because the energy supply from the warm water is cut off. Changes in wind speed can also cause a cyclone to dissipate.

Question 43

What is the source area and tracks of tropical cyclones?

Answer 43

Between 5° and 30° North and South of the equator. Tracks follow the path of trade winds away from the tropics. They curve due to the coriolis effect.

Question 44

Physical hazards of tropical cyclones?

Answer 44

• High winds • Infense rainfall • Storm surges • Coastal flooding • Landlisdes

Question 45

Impacts on people of physical hazards?

Answer 45

• People may drown in strong current created by floodwater and storm surges. • Windspeeds in tropical cyclones can be strong enough to completely destroy buildings, which means people are left homeless. • High winds and floodwater can carry large amounts of debris, which can kill or injure people. • Electricity supplies are cut off because cables are damaged or swept away by flood water. • The shortage of clean water and lack of proper sanitation makes it easier for diseases to spread. • In poorer countries there’s often a shortage of food because crops are damaged and livestock killed. • Unemployment increases because businesses are damaged or destroyed. • Damaged roads make it very difficult for aid and emergency vehicles to get through.

Question 46

Impacts on the environment of physical hazards?

Answer 46

• Trees are uprooted by high winds which can damage or completely destroy wooded habitats. • Storm surges can erode beaches and damage coastal habitats. • Flooding caused by storm surges can pollute freshwater environments with saltwater. • Landslides deposit sediment in rivers and lakes, which can kill fish and other wildlife. • Flooding can damage industrial buildings on the coast, e.g. oil or chemical factories. This causes harmful chemicals to leak into the environment and cause pollution.

Question 47

Physical vulnerability

Answer 47

1. Low lying coastlines are vulnerable to storm surge flooding as well as large waves caused by high winds. 2. Areas in the path of tropical cyclones are hit more frequently. 3. Steep hillsides May increase the risk of landslides.

Question 48

Economic vulnerability

Answer 48

Poorer countries are economically vulnerable because: 1. Many people depend on agriculture which is often badly affected - this leads to a loss of livelihoods. 2. People may not have insurance to cover the costs of repairing damage caused by cyclones. However, the economics impact is often greater in richer countries as the buildings and infrastructure damaged are worth a lot of money.

Question 49

Social vulnerability

Answer 49

Poorer countries are often more socially vulnerable because: 1. Buildings are poorer quality so more easily damaged. 2. Health care isn’t as good so they struggle to treat all the casualties. 3. There is little money for flood defences or training emergency teams. 4. It’s harder to rescue people because of poor infrastructure.

Question 50

How might climate change affect tropical cyclones in the future?

Answer 50

Higher temperatures means oceans heat up so more evaporation, condensation and release of energy so more intense storms.

Question 51

How can countries prepare for and respond to tropical cyclones?

Answer 51

• Weather forecasting • Satellite technology • Warning and evacuation strategies • Storm-surge defences

Question 52

Hurricane Katrina USA: Predict

Answer 52

• The USA has a sophisticated monitoring system to predict if (and where) a hurricane will hit, • The National Hurricane centre in Florida tracks and predicts hurricanes using satellite images and planes that collect weather data on approaching storms.

Question 53

Hurricane Katrina USA: Prepare

Answer 53

• There was an evacuation order from the mayor of New Orleans. The super dome was made a designated shelter for people who couldn’t evacuate. • FEMA (Federal emergency management agency) were unprepared for the scale of the destruction. • Evacuation procedures were not effective because public transport wasn’t used and the highways were jammed.

Question 54

Hurricane Katrina USA: Protect

Answer 54

• The city of New Orleans was very badly damaged - flood defences (e.g. levees) that were supposed to protect the city failed. • This caused widespread flooding (over 80% of the city was underwater).

Question 55

Hurricane Katrina USA: Impacts on people

Answer 55

• More than 1800 people were killed. • 300,000 houses were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless. • 3 million people left without electricity. • Roads were damaged and some bridges collapsed. • 230,000 jobs were lost from damaged businesses.

Question 56

Hurricane Katrina USA: Impacts on the environment

Answer 56

• Coastal habitats such as sea turtle breeding beaches were damaged. • Some coastal conversation areas were destroyed. • Flooding damaged oil refineries in Louisiana, causing massive oil spills.

Question 57

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Predict

Answer 57

• It was possible to track the typhoon with data from Japan. • Also the PAGASA, the Philippines meteorological agency tracked Haiyan.

Question 58

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Prepare

Answer 58

• People were warned of the typhoon using the PSWS (Public storm warning system). • Due to the accurate tracking by the PAGASA, 2 days before Haiyan hit, approximately 750,000 residents were evacuated. • The military were sent to high risk areas in preparation, to be ready to help with the aid effort. - Emergency shelters were put in place, but not on high enough ground to escape the 5m storm surge. - Many people did not understand what a storm surge was, and sought refuge in areas they thought were safe. The government were criticised for not communicating effectively.

Question 59

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Protect

Answer 59

• Many of the storm protection shelters did not survive the storm because they were poorly constructed. • No storm surge defences.

Question 60

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Impacts on people

Answer 60

• Over 7,000 died. • 1.9 million were left homeless, 6 million were displaced. • 5.8 billion dollars in damage.

Question 61

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Impacts on the environment

Answer 61

• 71,000 hectares of farmland was affected.

Question 62

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Key facts

Answer 62

• 2013 • Winds up to 195mph • One of the strongest tropical storms on record. Category 5 on the SS scale. • 5 metre storm surge, with waves up to 15m high.

Question 63

Hurricane Katrina USA: Key facts

Answer 63

• 2005 • Category 3 on the SS scale. • Damage was approx 108 billion. • 4m high storm surge. • River levees collapsed during the storm surge.

Question 64

Typhoon Haiyan Philippines: Responses

Answer 64

• The Philippines formally declared a state of national calamity and asked for international help, one day after Typhoon Haiyan hit the country. • The storm damaged infrastructure making response difficult. • Millions of people received little or no official aid. Many people starved because of lack of aid. • The government was accused of being corrupt because it didn’t distribute aid fairly, only to districts that voted for them. As a result, a lot of money didn’t make it to the most needy. • The UK government provides food, shelter, clean water, medicine and other supplies for up to 800,000 victims. • The United Nations launched an international aid appeal in December 2013 for £480m to finance the humanitarian relief effort for 2014.

Question 65

Hurricane Katrina USA: Response

Answer 65

• There was much criticism of the authorities for their handling of the disaster. Although many people were evacuated, it was a slow process and the poorest and most vulnerable were left behind. • President Bush was criticised for not responding with immediate aid fast enough. • The mayor was criticised for leading the evacuation order to late. • $50 billion in aid was given by the government. • The UK government sent food aid during the early stages of the recovery process. • The National Guard was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order in what became a hostil and unsafe living environment.

Question 66

Structure of the earth: Core

Answer 66

• The core is a ball of solid (inner) and liquid (outer) iron and nickel. • At the centre, its very dense. It becomes less dense further out. • The temperature inside the core ranges from 4400-6000°C

Question 67

Structure of the earth: Mantle

Answer 67

• The mantle is made up of silicone based rocks. • The part of the mantle nearest the core is quite rigid. • The layer above this, called the asthenosphere, is semi-molten (it can flow). • And the very, very top bit of the mantle is rigid. • The temperature of the mantle is between 1000 and 3700°C. It’s hotter towards the core and cooler towards the earth surface.

Question 68

Structure of the earth: The crust

Answer 68

• The crust is also made up of silicone based rocks. • There are 2 types of crust - continental and oceanic. Continental - thicker and less dense Oceanic - thinner and more dense

Question 69

How do tectonic plates move?

Answer 69

• The tectonic plates float on the mantle. • Radioactive decay of some elements in the mantle and core generates a lot of heat. • When lower parts of the asthenosphere heat up they come less dense and slowly rise. • As they move towards the top of the asthenosphere they cool down, become more dense, and slowly sink. • These circular movements of semi-molten rock are called convection currents. • Convection currents in the asthenosphere create drag on the base of the tectonic plates - and this causes them to move.

Question 70

Convergent boundaries

Answer 70

• Convergent boundaries are where two plates are moving towards each other. • Where an oceanic plate meets a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle and destroyed. This often creates volcanoes and ocean trenches. - Destructive margin • Where 2 continental plates meet, the plates collide, and the ground is folded and forced upwards to create mountain ranges. - Collision margin

Question 71

Divergent boundaries

Answer 71

Divergent boundaries are where 2 plates are moving away from each other. Magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap and cools, creating new crust.

Question 72

Conservative boundaries

Answer 72

Where 2 plates are moving sideways past each other, or are moving in the same direction but at different speeds. Crust isn’t created or destroyed.

Question 73

Hotspots

Answer 73

Some volcanoes form in the middle of tectonic plates over hotspots: 1. They occur where a plume of hot magma from the mantle moves towards the surface, causing an unusually large flow of heat from the mantle to the crust. 2. Sometimes the magma can break through the crust and reach the surface, when this happens there is an eruption and a volcano forms. 3. Hotspots remain stationary over time, but the crust moves above them. This can create chains of volcanic islands.

Question 74

Composite volcanos

Answer 74

• Occur at convergent destructive plate boundaries. • When the oceanic plate sinks into the mantle and melts, it forms magma, magma mixed with sea water rises up through the cracks in the Earth’s crust and erupts at the surface - forming volcanos. • Steep sides, and are made up of alternate layers of ash and lava. • The lava is sticky so it doesn’t flow far. • It’s also acidic. • Eruptions can be violent - expelling steam, ash, lava and rock - but they don’t happen very often.

Question 75

Shield volcanoes

Answer 75

• They’re found at divergent plate margins. • As the 2 plates move apart, magma rises up from the mantle. Some magma is forced to the surface through a vent - forming a volcano. • Shield volcanoes have a wide base and gently sloping sides. • The lava is runny and flows a long way. It’s also basic (opposite of acidic). • There can be frequent eruptions, but they’re not to violent.

Question 76

Focus

Answer 76

The point of rupture in the earths crust from which energy is released.

Question 77

Epicentre

Answer 77

The point on the ground surface directly above the focus where the greatest energy is felt.

Question 78

How to measure earthquakes?

Answer 78

Seismometers measures the seismic (shock waves) from the earthquake and then its magnitude is worked out.

Question 79

Richter scale and moment magnitude scale

Answer 79

• Both measure magnitude between 1 and 10 where each number is 10 times greater than the previous. • The moment magnitude scale is used more frequently now as its more accurate at higher magnitudes.

Question 80

Secondary hazards of earthquakes?

Answer 80

• Landlsides. • Tsunamis.

Question 81

How are tsunamis caused?

Answer 81

• On a convergent boundary where the Eurasian plate meets the pacific plate. • The oceanic plate subducted underneath the continental plate and friction/pressure built up as the continental plate is dragged downwards. • When the pressure was released, the continental plate thrust upwards and water was displaced creating a wave. • As it travelled to the shallower sea, the wave got bigger, causing mass destruction.

Question 82

Japan earthquake

Answer 82

• 11th March 2011 • 9 magnitude • Convergent plate margin • Focus was 30 km deep. • Epicentre was 70km outside Sendai bay.

Question 83

Primary impacts of Japan earthquake

Answer 83

• 1 dam collapsed and 2 nuclear power stations fractured. • An oil refinery set on fire due to damaged gas pipes. • Over 300,000 buildings, 200 roads, 56 bridges and 26 railways were destroyed or damaged. • 300 hospitals damaged and 11 totally destroyed. • $235 billion dollars of damage.

Question 84

Secondary impacts of Japan earthquake

Answer 84

• 15,900 people died - 93% drowned. • 350,000 people left homeless. • 2 nuclear reactors went into meltdown because flooding damaged the cooling systems. • Homelessness and disrupted schooling and unemployment continued for years after as the government struggled to deal with it.

Question 85

Predicts prepare and protect Japan earthquake

Answer 85

• Impossible to ‘predict’ but Japan has spend over 70 million on lasers used to monitor and have a network of seismometers all over the country. • Most advanced early warning system in the world. It sends nation wide warnings to cell phones as well as factories and schools when P waves are detected. • Tsunami warning system. • Every 1st of September the whole country has an earthquake and tsunami drill to make sure civilians, rescue and emergency services know what to do. • Billions of pounds have been spent on making buildings more resistant to earthquakes. They have strict building regulations. • Gas supplies are automatically shut off to reduce risk of fire. • 12m tsunami barriers have been replaced with 18m ones.

Question 86

Japan earthquake short term relief.

Answer 86

• Rescue services and army were mobilised. They were able to clear roads and create access paths very quickly. • The army helped to build many temporary shelters quickly and the building of the worst affected areas happened immediately. • The Japanese Red Cross received over $1 billion in donations and they gave out over 300,000 emergency relief kits and 14,000 sleeping kits.

Question 87

Haiti earthquake

Answer 87

• 12th January 2010 • 7 magnitude earthquake • Conservative plate margin • Focus was about 13km deep. • Epicentre was 25km outside capital city Port au Prince.

Question 88

Primary impacts of Haiti

Answer 88

• 316,00 people were killed and 300,000 injured. • Main port was badly damaged. • 8 hospitals collapsed. • 100,000 houses were destroyed and 200,000 were damaged. • 1.3 million people became homeless. • Landslides happened all over the country.

Question 89

Secondary impacts of Haiti

Answer 89

• 2 million people were left without food or water. • Crime increased - looting became a problem. • By November 2010 there were outbreaks of cholera. • Haitis clothing factories were damaged so 1/5 of jobs were lost.

Question 90

Haiti predict, prepare and protect.

Answer 90

• Forecasts were made by scientists but national or international action wasn’t made • Haiti was unprepared - it was difficult to implement an early warning system. • No education about earthquakes. • No stockpiling of emergency resources. • Buildings were poorly built and collapsed easily. • Since the earthquake they have used earthquake resistant techniques to build homes.

Question 91

Haiti short term relief

Answer 91

• Crucial aid was slow to arrive due to the damaged port. • USA sent rescue teams and 10,000 troops. • Temporary field hospitals were set up. • The UK’s disaster committee donated 100 million which was used to provide emergency shelters, medication, bottled water and purification tablets. • Search and rescue teams flew from all over the world.