Multi Hazardous Environment Case Study Flashcards
1
Q
What did ‘The Economist’ say about Tohoku tsunami ?
A
“some natural disasters change history. Japan’s tsunami could be one.”
2
Q
When did the Tohoku earthquake occur ?
A
March 2011
3
Q
How many Earthquakes occur in Japan per year ?
A
1500 earthquakes per year
4
Q
Key facts about the Tohoku disaster ?
A
- magnitude 9.0
- moved the entire island of Honshu 2.4m closer to North America
- shifted the Earth’s axis by 20cm
- made Earth’s day shorter by 1.8microseconds
- caused visible waves in Norwegian fjords
5
Q
How many waves did the tsunami create ?
A
Created 10 waves, each 1km apart
Wave height 10m, breaching the sea wall
6
Q
What were the primary effects ?
A
- shaking cause gas pipes to burst leading to fires
- tsunami waves devastated everything in its path
- flooded an area of almost 500 sq km
- in Ichihara, oil refinery burst into flames
- 18000 deaths
- $274bn in damages
7
Q
What were the secondary effects ?
A
- half a million homeless
- 6mil homes without electricity
- 700 aftershocks for 2 weeks
- Fukushima nuclear power plant leaked radiation
- fears of a nuclear disaster lead to panic selling across global stock markets
8
Q
Immediate Responses ?
A
- temporary shelter (freezing temp)
- helicopter crews rescued people from rooftops
- 100,000 soldiers mobilised to establish order
- USA, China offered aid
- UK sent 63 search and rescue specialists
- Exclusion zone set up around the Fukushima nuclear plant. (iodine tablets given to prevent radiation sickness)
- no reports of looting or violence
9
Q
Longterm Responses ?
A
- tsunami defences were inadequate, process of improving them began
- 2013 Japan unveiled a upgraded tsunami warning system
- Reconstruction Design Council set up to plan a long term growth of the Tohoku region. Including subsidies and relaxed planning regulations
