12 Mark Tectonics Flashcards
(2 cards)
Assess the importance of development in understanding the impact of tectonic hazards (12)
Theme 1 - governance
Understanding that strong governance can reduce the impact of tectonic hazards as it ensures effective enforcement of building codes and efficient evacuation responses.
E.g. japan has enforced strict building codes such as ensuring all skyscrapers had a levitating pendulum and buildings have protection built into them to counter the skating of the ground. Along w educating the public on evacuation drills to ensure that all members of society including young Kids know what to during a tectonic event.
TIS as their strong seismic regulations helped miniseries structural collapse as no skyscrapers fell during the 2011 tohoku EQ along w only 16,000 deaths in a 9.0 mag EQ.
Contrasingly, in LEDs where their weak governance can exacerbate their vulnerability to tectonic events.
E.g. following the 7.0 mag EQ in Haiti 2010, their weak gov meant that emergency systems were undeveloped which stifled attempts to coordinate relief efforts coupled with their lack of enforced building codes and lack of public training lead to 220,000 deaths. TIS as their weak governance caused chais, leading to the country to experience more deaths and instability even after the EQ.
Overall, depsite japan experiencing a higher mag EQ, their strong gov managed to avoid as many deaths than in Haiti
Assess the importance of development in understanding…
Theme 2- better technology
Developed countries would understand the impacts more due to having better technology. E.g. japans meteorological agency alert system detected p-waves seconds before s-waves hit. TIS as this allowed them to notify the GOV and the public thru public broadcasts, allowing time for the pub;c to execute evacuation plans w bullet trains and elevators stopping automatically.
Howver, in LEDs there lack of monitoring and prediction schemes created more losers. E.g. the Congo volcano 2002 lacked any oversight as no one has been momitoring it, causing goma to be unprepared w 200 deaths and 15% of it being covered in lava flows. TIS as their lack of technological advancement exacerbated the amounts of deaths and economic losses.
Overall developments in tech and prediction strategies can help us understand how to mitigate tectonic hazards better, but this only applies to developed world, where they can afford to monitor seismic activity
Conc= governance- as all countries in the world has a government which determines how well a country responds to tectonic activity whereas those in the developing world is switched off from technological advancements, therefore tech ad prediction has limited importance.
