Tectonics Case Studies

Question 1

Summarise the Indian Ocean Tsunami?

Answer 1

Boxing Day 2004

• 11 countries all developing
• In Indonesia the sensor system had been struck by lightning so did not work. In India the warning went to the wrong official.
• 225,000 deaths - Millions displaced
• The Moden tribal elders of Myanmar predicted it and moved to higher ground
• 9.1 magnitutde earthquake followed by a Tsunami

Question 2

Summarise Tohoku?

Answer 2

Tohoku 2011

• 9.0 magnitude earthquake
• £300Bn cost (largest ever)
• lower social costs (only 15,000 deaths)
• Meltdown after flooding at Fukushima plant, triggering a major nuclear emergency

Question 3

Christchurch?

Answer 3

2011 Earthquake in NZ

Liquefaction meant infrastructure damage was ripe - thousands displaced and left homeless.

Question 4

Haiti

Answer 4

Haiti 2010
* 250,000 deaths

• 300,000 affected by Cholera outbreak
• Still recovering - dead aid / 10,000 NGOs - corruption.
• 13Bn pledged in aid though

Question 5

L’Aquilla

Answer 5

2009, Italy Earthquake 6.3

• 65,000 / 72,000 people made homeless
• 25,000 buildings collapsed
• Poor governance / enforcement of building codes.

Question 6

Eyjafjallajökull

Answer 6

2010 volcano

• Over 100,000 flights cancelled across Europe
• Cost to global aviation: ~$1.7 billion USD
• Airspace closed in over 20 countries
• no social cost - evacuation
• Jokullhaup

Question 7

Mount Pinatubo?

Answer 7

Mount Pinatubo, Philippines (1991)

Excellent international response that saved thousands

• VEI: 6
• Deaths: ~850 (could’ve been tens of thousands)
• Displaced: Over 200,000
• Ash cloud: 35 km high; cooled global climate by ~0.5°C
• Secondary impacts: Lahars for years, widespread roof collapse

Question 8

Japan hazard cycle?

Answer 8

• September 1st - disaster response day
• Manuals given out to all households
• Taught in schools
• Sea walls are 14m high in some areas
• Strong EWS

Question 9

Nevado del Ruiz?

Answer 9

** Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia – 1985**

• VEI: 3
• Deaths: ~23,000
• Cause of death: Mainly from a lahar (volcanic mudflow) that buried the town of Armero
• Trigger: Small eruption melted the volcano’s ice cap, releasing massive mudflows

SHOWS HOW EVEN IF THE ERUPTION IS SMALL - DEATHCOUNT CAN STILL BE HIGH (HIGHEST IN LAST 50 YEARS)