Geography - The Restless Earth - Tsunami - Japan CASE STUDY

Seite 1

Japan 2011 Tsunami CASE STUDY

Causes

·

The Pacific plate sub-ducted underneath the

Eurasian Plate which caused a large build up of pressure.

·

This large amount of pressure eventually

released, causing the Eurasian plate to spring back upwards.

·

This displaced a massive vertical column of

water upwards

·

This massive column of water splits in two, with

one heading out to sea and the other towards land

·

As the plate margin the water is merely a ripple

however as it travels outwards and nears the mainland of Japan it gains height.

·

The wave’s height reaches up to 10m as it

reaches shallower water.

Primary Effects

·

The sea wall protect the coast were not high

enough and many were destroyed

·

Around 16,000 people died as a result of the

quake and tsunami, 95% of these deaths were by drowning

·

26,000 people were injured and 4,000 were

missing.

·

582 roads were cut off and 32 bridges were

destroyed

·

Many animals died after the tsunami

·

Many building, bridges and automobiles were

washed away

·

At Fukushima the subsequent tsunami disabled

emergency generators required to cool the reactors.

·

Over the following three weeks there was evidence

of a partial nuclear meltdown in units 1, 2 and 3; visible explosions,

suspected to be caused by hydrogen gas, in units 1 and 3; a suspected explosion

in unit 2, that may have damaged the primary containment vessel; and a possible

uncovering of the units 1, 3 and 4 spent fuel pools.

·

Radiation releases caused large evacuations,

concern over food and water supplies, and treatment of nuclear workers

·

500km2 coastal plains hit, destroying farmland,

settlements and communications

·

Ruptured gas pipes led to fires

Secondary Effects

·

The cost of recovery was $235 billion, the most

expensive natural disaster ever

·

Food Shortages were caused by the destruction of

the crop fields

·

Many people were left homeless

Short-Term Responses

·

Over 100,00 Japanese soldiers were used in

search and rescue

·

An exclusion zone was set up around the

Fukushima nuclear plant and people were forced to evacuate

·

Search and rescue teams were mobilised and so

were medical teams, 30 helicopters were assigned to help the recue and relief

effort. They also distributed food, water, blankets etc.

·

Sports centres and other large building were

opened for displaced people to sleep in

·

Electricity supplies were fixed

·

The Defense

Ministry sent in eight fighter jets to check the damage.

·

Specialist search and rescue teams flown in from

overseas

·

91 countries sent aid to help the country, from

blankets and food to search dogs and military transport.

·

Over £200 million was raised to help in the

first week

Long Term Responses

·

The massive clean-up effort took a many months

·

Huge areas had to be rebulit

·

Many people had to rebuild their lives after the

quake and tsunami

·

Preparation and planning in the country

increased, eg school drills, earthquake, survival gear, disaster parks.

·

Engineering developed even more eg earthquake

proof building (The Sky Tree)

·

Sea Walls were rebuilt much larger and to be

more effective