EARTHQUAKE CASE STUDY GCSE GEO

Japan Earthquake 2011

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck northeast Japan on 11 March 2011

Location Japan Earthquake

Tohoku region in northeast Japan

Cause Japan Earthquake

Pacific Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate at a destructive plate margin

Mechanism Japan Earthquake

Pressure builds then suddenly releases causing earthquake and tsunami

Magnitude Japan Earthquake

9.0 (megathrust)

Deaths Japan Earthquake

Around 16,000 people killed

Tsunami Japan Earthquake

Waves reached up to 40 metres high

Homeless Japan Earthquake

Around 500,000 people left homeless

Infrastructure Damage Japan

Buildings, roads and railways destroyed

Fukushima Disaster

Nuclear power plant failure caused by tsunami flooding

Economic Impact Japan

Around $235 billion damage

Global Impacts Japan

Disruption to global supply chains

Responses Japan Earthquake

100,000 soldiers deployed, international aid sent, evacuations and emergency shelters provided, sea walls rebuilt, stricter building regulations, improved warning systems, reduction in nuclear energy use

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Nepal Earthquake 2015

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck near Kathmandu on 25 April 2015

Location Nepal Earthquake

Near Kathmandu, Nepal

Cause Nepal Earthquake

Indian Plate colliding with Eurasian Plate (collision zone)

Mechanism Nepal Earthquake

Pressure builds from plate movement then released

Magnitude Nepal Earthquake

7.8

Deaths Nepal

Around 9,000 people killed

Injured Nepal

Around 20,000 injured

Homeless Nepal

Around 3 million made homeless

Building Damage Nepal

Homes and historic buildings collapsed

Landslides Nepal

Blocked roads and isolated communities

Avalanche Nepal

Everest avalanche killed 19 people

Tourism Nepal

Tourism declined after earthquake

Shortages Nepal

Food and water shortages

Responses Nepal Earthquake

International aid from UK, India and China, helicopter rescues, temporary shelters and search teams, rebuilding of homes, schools and roads, stricter building codes, tourism encouraged

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Typhoon Haiyan 2013

A Category 5 tropical storm that hit the Philippines in November 2013

Location Typhoon Haiyan

Philippines, especially Tacloban

Wind Speed Haiyan

Over 300 km/h

Storm Surge Haiyan

Around 5 metres high

Cause Haiyan Temperature

Sea temperatures above 27°C

Cause Haiyan Wind Shear

Low wind shear allowed storm to build

Cause Haiyan Pressure

Rising moist air created low pressure

Deaths Haiyan

Around 6,300 people killed

Destruction Tacloban

About 90% of city destroyed

Displacement Haiyan

Over 4 million people displaced

Infrastructure Haiyan

Widespread damage to buildings and roads

Disease Haiyan

Spread due to poor sanitation

Looting Haiyan

Occurred due to lack of supplies

Shortages Haiyan

Food and clean water shortages

Economic Impact Haiyan

Farming and fishing industries destroyed

Responses Haiyan

International aid (UN, UK, USA), evacuation centres, food, water and field hospitals, "Build Back Better" reconstruction, no-build coastal zones, improved warning systems, mangrove replanting

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Somerset Floods 2014

Severe flooding in winter 2013-2014 in southwest England

Location Somerset Floods

Somerset Levels, UK

Cause Somerset Rain

Prolonged heavy rainfall

Cause Somerset Tides

High tides prevented rivers draining

Cause Somerset Dredging

Rivers had not been dredged

Cause Somerset Relief

Low-lying land increased flood risk

Homes Flooded Somerset

Over 600 homes flooded

Farms Somerset

16 farms evacuated

Transport Somerset

Roads cut off

Power Somerset

Power supplies disrupted

Economic Impact Somerset

Around £10 million damage

Mental Health Somerset

Stress and anxiety for residents

Tourism Somerset

Decline in visitors

Soil Damage Somerset

Long-term agricultural damage

Responses Somerset Floods

Evacuations, temporary flood barriers, pumps and emergency services, river dredging, raised roads, improved drainage, long-term flood action plan