Earthquakes

Question 1

Is it possible to predict earthquakes?

Answer 1

Where they might happen but not when

Question 2

What is the one method of predicting earthquakes?

Answer 2

Earthquake Storms

Question 3

What is an earthquake storm?

Answer 3

A pattern of cyclic earthquake behaviour

Question 4

How were earthquake storms discovered?

Answer 4

Studies of the San Andreas Fault by the USGS discovered a pattern of earthquakes in Parkfield, California

Question 5

What equipment was used to discover Earthquake Storms?

Answer 5

Seismometers
GPS
Creep Meters

Question 6

How was the theory of Earthquake Storms confirmed?

Answer 6

Using computer modelling, the USGS saw behaviour along the North Anatolian fault and predicted an earthquake in Izmit, Turkey. In 1999, there was an earthquake in Izmit.

Question 7

Where is the next earthquake predicted along the North Anatolian Fault?

Answer 7

Istanbul

Question 8

Why would an earthquake in Istanbul be devastating?

Answer 8

It is home to 14 million people?

Question 9

How many people died in Izmit?

Answer 9

17,000

Question 10

Why did so many people die in Izmit?

Answer 10

Because the prediction was ignored since the prediction did not say when

Question 11

When was the Japan Tsunami?

Answer 11

2011

Question 12

What two plates does Japan lie near?

Answer 12

The Pacific and Eurasian

Question 13

What was the cause of the Japan Tsunami?

Answer 13

Distortion had built up in the Eurasian plate because it had subsided and the stick built up over 200 years. When it was released energy was released upwards causing the plate to go upwards forcing 6km deep water to form a swell towards Japan.

Question 14

What magnitude was the Japan Earthquake?

Answer 14

9

Question 15

What was the response to the Japan Tsunami in Fukushima?

Answer 15

There was an auto shut down of the nuclear reactors but they were still hot and there were multiple reactor meltdowns?

Question 16

What is at Fukushima?

Answer 16

6 Nuclear Reactors

Question 17

Why was Fukushima vulnerable to an earthquake?

Answer 17

Needs a colossal water supply so next to sea

Question 18

What happened at Miyako in 2011?

Answer 18

The defences put in place failed

Question 19

What defences failed at Miyako?

Answer 19

a) The 10m high sea walls failed because the shoreline subsided making them much lower
b) The regular tsunami drills did not matter because the walls were breached

Question 20

What significant economic damage occurred at Miyako?

Answer 20

Only about 30-60 boats survived from the town’s 960 ship fishing fleet

Question 21

What damage occurred in Tokyo as a result of the 2011 tectonic activity?

Answer 21

The train systems were paralysed and a 6.2 aftershock cracked the ground

Question 22

Was all the effects of the 2011 tsunami exclusive to Japan?

Answer 22

No, other places nearby such as Hawaii was hit within 6 hours

Question 23

Why were the effects in Hawaii less than in Japan?

Answer 23

Because they had 6 hours to prepare and the wave was only 1m

Question 24

How important is Search and Rescue?

Answer 24

It is not important unless used immediately since otherwise it can be ineffective

Question 25

How important is aid?

Answer 25

Very important but is not a priority

Question 26

How important is Security in the even of an earth hazard?

Answer 26

It is the biggest priority for a country because otherwise aid cannot be used effectively

Question 27

What were the social consequences of the Haiti Earthquake?

Answer 27

Loss of family members
Injuries
Home and possessions lost

Question 28

What were the economic consequences of the Haiti Earthquake?

Answer 28

Loss of job/livelihood
Loss of wage-earner in family
Cost of house repairs

Question 29

What were the environmental consequences of the Haiti Earthquake?

Answer 29

Destruction of the environment

Water pollution

Question 30

What were short term responses to the Haiti Earthquake?

Answer 30

Search and rescue efforts

Distributing medical aid

Question 31

What were the long term responses to the Haiti Earthquake?

Answer 31

Rehousing people

Making sure the region is secure and there is no unrest

Question 32

What was the cause of the Haiti Earthquake?

Answer 32

The stress built up along the N. American Plate and the Caribbean plate and was released by a sudden slippage.

Question 33

Why was the the effects of the Haiti earthquake worse than say in Christchurch?

Answer 33

Haiti as a LEDC had not invested/could not afford in earthquake protection while in Christchurch they were able to afford to invest and quickly respond

Question 34

What are the three strands of short term responses to earthquakes?

Answer 34

Rescuing
Relief
Security

Question 35

What are long term management strategies for hazards?

Answer 35

Preparation

Prediction

Question 36

What are are ways to prepare for hazards?

Answer 36

Hazard mapping
Building regulations
Education
Training

Question 37

Who first proposed the earthquake storm theory?

Answer 37

Ross Stein

Question 38

Where did the Turkish ‘storm’ begin?

Answer 38

Erzican (1939)

Question 39

How much would an earthquake in Istanbul potentially cost?

Answer 39

$11 Billion

Question 40

What has been introduced in Istanbul as a response to its vulnerability?

Answer 40

The Earthquake Master Plan for Istanbul (EMPI)

Question 41

What does EMPI set out?

Answer 41

Preventative measures against potential earthquakes but also sets out a planned response to a potential earthquake, to reduce the after effects

Question 42

Name the preventative measures set out by EMPI

Answer 42

Inspections by independent regulators for all new buildings
Compulsory earthquake insurance
Older buildings to be retrofitted
Improve emergency facilities