🌝 environmental geo unit 2

what’s a tectonic disaster?

a natural disaster caused by the movement of earth’s tectonic plates

causes of 2011 japanese earthquake and tsunami?

• japan is located on the edge of the eurasian plate

  • it is continental and gets subducted by the pacific plate, causing lots of friction and building up pressure for an earthquake

primary human effects of the 2011 japanese earthquake and tsunami?

• many died, were injured or displaced, and some remain missing today

• millions of households were left without electricity

secondary human effects of the 2011 japanese earthquake and tsunami?

• this was the most expensive disaster in history

• high radiation levels were reported

causes of tsunamis?

displacement of water due to undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or landslides

causes of floods?

• heavy rainfall

• melting snow

• coastal storms

• ice jams

• dam faliures

• urbanization

the longest ridge worldwide, underwater that runs down the center of the atlantic ocean is known as what?

mid-atlantic ridge

describe a levee system?

human made / ridge / natural barrier built alongside a body of water to prevent water

reasons people may remain in high-risk areas?

• attachment to family and the area

• economic benefits

• people may not be fortunate enough to move

• low perceived risk; not believing it will happen again/to them

how do wildfires connect to climate change?

climate change provides conditions that allow fires to combust easily (higher temperatures, shallow winters, less rain)

primary causes of wildfires?

human activity

• cigarettes

• campfires

• machinery and industrial operations

2026 bc wildfire causes, impacts, preparedness and mitigation?

• cause climate change giving a strong breeding ground for fires, lightning, natural causes

• impact forced 20k people out of their homes + burned over 19k hectares

• preparedness fire crew focused on saving people instead of firefighting, requested assistance nationally and internationally

• mitigation prevention programs and year-round wildfire service have been added, developing new tech to help detect fires

disaster preparedness vs mitigation?

• mitigation changing the environment to limit the impact (ex. reinforcing buildings)

• preparedness prepares people for when the disaster strikes

how can we limit the impact of natural disasters?

• for tsunamis, we can implement warning systems, build buildings away from shore

• for earthquakes we can reinforce buildings

• for floods we can build more greenspace (ponds, riverbanks, etc)

how does climate change play a role in increasing intensity in natural disasters?

• it creates conditions that allow wildfires to brew

• warmer oceans allow water vapour to stay in the air longer —> more storms, hurricanes and floods

magma plumes?

a rising column of hot, solid rock that originates deep within the earth’s mantle

what failed to prevent hurricane katrina from affecting new orleans?

levees— the pressure of the storm broke them and water submerged 80% of the cities