Earthquakes

Question 1

Explain the causes of earthquakes

Answer 1

Conservative Plate Boundaries
- two tectonic plates moves sideways past each other
- the plates can move in the same or different directions
- occasionally, the crustal plates get stuck together
- when this happens, pressure builds up and eventually the force
becomes too great and the release of pressure causes plates to jerk
past each other
- this sudden movement of tectonic plates causes an earthquake
- an underwater earthquake is called a tsunami

Question 2

Explain the effect on people of an earthquake which you have studied

Answer 2

• JAPAN 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami
• 18 000 deaths
• 200 000 evacuated from their homes
• Lack of drinking water and food
• Phone and electricity lines cut off
• People separated from families and loved ones
• 215 000 placed in emergency shelters
• Cancer risk increased by 1%

Question 3

Explain the effect on the landscape of an earthquake which you have studied

Answer 3

• JAPAN 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami
• Wiped out thousands of coastal buildings and whole towns
• Loss of farmland and crops
• Transport networks ruined (road and railway)
• Land badly flooded
• Fires broke out in centre of the city
• Nuclear reactor plant damaged
• 14 000 homes destroyed and 100 000 badly damaged
• Cost $220 billion

Question 4

Explain management strategies used for an earthquake which you have studied

Answer 4

• JAPAN 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami
• Tiltmeters used to measure grounds tilt and gradient for activity
• Text messages to alert people
• Children practice drills
• Earthquake survival kits in homes
• Earthquake-proof buildings built
• Alarm to alert people to get onto high ground
• Sound recording equipment to detect earth tremors
• Emergency services trained to respond after an earthquake