Tectonic Hazards

Describe a Destructive Margin?

Where an oceanic plate meets a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is subducted and destroyed. Volcanoes and ocean trenches occur here.

Example: Japan

Describe a Constructive Margin?

Where two plates are moving away from each other. Magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap and cools, creating new crust.

Example: Iceland

Describe a Conservative Margin?

Where two plates are moving sideways past each other, or are moving in the same direction at different speeds. Crust isn’t created or destroyed.

Example: San Andreas Fault

Where can volcanoes and earthquakes form?

Volcanoes form on destructive and constructive plate margins

Earthquakes form on all types of plate margins

What are the main hazards from eruptions?

Ash - Small dust from rocks that are released by volcanoes

Lahar - A massive flow of water which carries mud and rocks

Poisonous Gas - Trapped underground and escapes

Lava - Liquid magma released by volcanoes

Pyroclastic flow - An avalanche of fast moving ash, gas and air

Describe the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand (2011)

Magnitude - 6.3

Killed - 185

Injured - 3000

Damage - 11 Billion (0.005% GDP)

Response - 7 Million Aid , Red Cross

Describe the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti (2010)

Magnitude - 7.0

Killed - 220,000

Injured - 300,000

Damage - 8 Billion (0.1% GDP)

Response - 13 Billion Aid

Predicting, Protecting and Planning Earthquakes?

Predicting - Seismometers

Protecting - Building Regulations

Planning - Evacuation Plans

Predicting, Protecting and Planning Volcanoes?

Predicting - Satellites

Protecting - Exclusion Zones

Planning - Evacuation Plans