Hazards - Case Studies

Question 1

Example of a volcanic hazard in a HIC

Answer 1

Mt. St. Helens

Question 2

Economic impacts of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens

Answer 2

• $1.1 billion in damage
• Airport was closed
• Timber industry affected by the destruction of forests

Question 3

Social impacts of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens

Answer 3

• 57 people killed
• Unemployment rates rapidly increased
• Hundreds of homes lost

Question 4

Environmental impacts of the eruption of Mt. St Helens

Answer 4

• Large lose of wildlife
• Water quality reduced
• 240 square km of forest destroyed

Question 5

Responses to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens

Answer 5

• Face masks distributed to protect people from volcanic ash
• Ash clean-up schemes created
• Emergency shelters set up for the homeless

Question 6

Describe the location of Mt. St Helens and the nature of the eruption.

Answer 6

• USA, Washington
• Located on a destructive plate margin
• In March 1980, small eruptions and large bulge appeared on the side of the volcano
• Magnitude 5.1 eruption in May 1980

Question 7

Example of a volcanic hazard in a LIC

Answer 7

Soufrière Hills, Montserrat

Question 8

Economic impacts of the Soufrière Hills eruption

Answer 8

• $1 billion in damage
• Airport destroyed
• Temporary decrease in tourism

Question 9

Example of a wildfire

Answer 9

Alberta wildfire, Canada

Question 10

What caused the Alberta wildfire

Answer 10

Precise cause is unknown but suggested a contribution of:

• Lack of winter snowfall
• Warmer than average temperatures
• Very low humidity

Question 11

Environmental impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 11

• Released tonnes of C02
• Ash washed into water, contaminating aquatic life
• Scorched soil and burnt tree roots

Question 12

Social impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 12

• 90,000 evacuated

Question 13

Political impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 13

• Fuelled political debate about climate change

- Reconstruction programs for buildings and infrastructure

Question 14

Give some short-term responses to the Alberta Wildfire

Answer 14

• Evacuation of 90,000 residents
• Support from the Canadian Air Force
• Monitoring of the newly ignited fire + fire warnings

Question 15

Give some long-term responses to the Alberta wildfire

Answer 15

• The Alberta Government covered living expenses; $1250 per adult
• Clearing up and rebuilding
• 2016 ‘Fire Aid’ convert raised money for those affected

Question 16

Give an example of a multi-hazard environment and the hazards they experience

Answer 16

Philippines; earthquakes, volcanic activity, tropical storms

Question 17

Explain the volcanic activity of the Philippines

Answer 17

• 23 active volcanoes

- Can lead to lahars + volcanic ash mixed with rainfall produces mudflows

Question 18

Give some background information about the Philippines

Answer 18

• Group of islands in south-east Asia
• Population of 100 million
• Lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire

Question 19

Give an example of a volcanic eruption in the Philippines

Answer 19

Mt. Pinatubo, 1991

• 2nd largest eruption of the 20th century
• Ash + gas released had a global impact lasting two years; reducing temperatures by 5 degrees

Question 20

Explain the seismic activity of the Philippines

Answer 20

• 17 between 2000 and 2013

- Leads to tsunamis, fires and landslides

Question 21

Economic impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 21

• $9 billion in damage
• Transport severely affected, including international airport
• Production in oil sands was halted

Question 22

Give an example of an earthquake in the Philippines

Answer 22

Bohol, 2013

• 7.2 magnitude
• 800 injured, 200 died
• 79,000 buildings destroyed

Question 23

Explain the storm activity of the Philippines

Answer 23

• Accounts for the highest number of deaths
• Around 10 tropical storms a year
• Risk of flooding and landslides

Question 24

Give an example of a tropical storm in the Philippines

Answer 24

Typhoon Haiyan, 2013

• 7,000 died, 1.9 million homeless
• 71,000 hectares of farmland destroyed
• $5.8 billion in damage

Question 25

Why is the Philippines vulnerable to hazards?

Answer 25

- Densely populated, low lying living areas with poor quality housing - Concentrations of economic activity - Deforestation has decreased interception leaving soil exposed

Question 26

How have the Philippines responded to these hazards?

Answer 26

- Emphasis on post-disaster relief + forecasting and evacuation - Little land use planning - Philippine National Red Cross encourages co-operation between communities and local volunteers - Government reactive rather than proactive

Question 27

Example of oceanic to continental meeting:

Answer 27

Peru-Chile trench | Andes

Question 28

Example of oceanic to oceanic meeting:

Answer 28

Mariana Trench and Islands

Question 29

Example of continental to continental meeting:

Answer 29

Himalayas

Question 30

Example of a rift valley:

Answer 30

Great African Rift Valley

Question 31

Example of an ocean ridge:

Answer 31

Pacific Ocean Ridge

Question 32

Example of an active volcano:

Answer 32

Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, April 2010 Eruption causes the surrounding ice to melt and flood the local town Contaminated water sources Farming ceased due to ash deposits

Question 33

Example of a fire prevention scheme

Answer 33

Smoky Bear, US

Question 34

Example of the negative effects of extinguishing wildfires

Answer 34

Alberta Wildfire Frequent extinguishing has caused the forrest to become thick and deprived of light Due to no fires eradicating diseases, the Mountain Pine Beetle has overtaken the forrest causing a lot of plant species to die

Question 35

Example of mudflows following a volcanic event

Answer 35

The Colombian Armero tragedy Rising magma melted the summit glacier Heavy rainfall and flood waters combined with ash sending a 30m lahar travelling at 80km/h 8m of mud coverage following morning

Question 36

Give an example of an seismic event in an LIC

Answer 36

Indian Ocean Tsunami, December 2004 Indonesia 9.0 magnitude earthquake No warnings until after the tsunami hit

Question 37

What were the primary impacts of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami

Answer 37

300,000 dead 800m of vegetation and soil destroyed Costal settlements destroyed

Question 38

What were the secondary impacts of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami

Answer 38

500,000 living in refugee camps £226m in damage to the fishing industry Water and soil supplies contaminated by saltwater

Question 39

Name some of the immediate responses from the 2004 Indonesian tsunami

Answer 39

160 organisations and the UN aided in joint relief efforts | Australian Air Force improved the air traffic control systems at local airports

Question 40

Name some of the long-term responses from the 2004 Indonesian tsunami

Answer 40

Large-scale reconstruction programs were implemented, but thousands were still living in tents one year on Education on tsunami awareness Practice drills and evaluation plans established Costal zones hazard-mapped to identify areas at highest risk

Question 41

Name some of the long-term responses from the 2004 Indonesian tsunami that didn't achieve the desired aim

Answer 41

Large-scale reconstruction programs were implemented, but thousands were still living in tents one year on Political barriers slowed aid distribution Tourists resorts were quickly rebuilt but costal communities were pushed out for new development

Question 42

Example of structural responses to a hazard

Answer 42

Sea wall, Corpus Christi, Texas

Question 43

Example of disaster aid

Answer 43

Medicine distributed, Pakistan