japan tsunami 2011 case study gcse

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Geography Revision

Revision materials to support you in preparing for your GCSE Geography exams. 

GCSE | AQA |  The Challenge of Natural Hazards | Case Study – HIC Earthquake

• What is a natural hazard?
• Types of Natural Hazards
• Hazard Risk
• Plate Tectonics
• Why do tectonic plates move?
• The global distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes
• Destructive plate margins
• Conservative plate margins
• Constructive plate margins

Causes of earthquakes

• Measuring Earthquakes

What are the effects of earthquakes?

• Responses to Earthquakes

Case Study – HIC Earthquake

• Case Study – LIC Earthquake
• Why do people live in tectonically active areas?
• Managing Tectonic Hazards
• Global Atmospheric Circulation

Revision Notes

Measuring earthquakes

Responses to earthquakes

Case Study – LIC/NEE Earthquake

Interactive Revision

• On 24 August 2016, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit central Italy near Norcia.
• The earthquake’s epicentre was shallow, at a depth of 5.1 km.
• It was the strongest quake in Italy since the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, which killed over 300 people.
• The Amatrice earthquake was felt over 100 miles away, including in Rome.
• Amatrice, the town closest to the epicentre, suffered significant social, economic, and environmental impacts.
• Italy’s seismic activity is due to its location on the Eurasian and African plate collision border, creating multiple fault lines.
• Two major fault lines, north-south and east-west, contribute to the country’s geological instability.
• The Apennines are stretching northwest at about 3 mm per year, causing pressure buildup along faults, leading to earthquakes when released.

Primary Effects

The  primary effects  of the Amatrice earthquake include:

• Two hundred ninety-nine people died, 400 were injured, and 4454 were homeless.
• 293 historic buildings were damaged or destroyed, including the Basilica of San Francesco in Amatrice
• Over half the buildings in Amatrice were damaged or destroyed. Despite their reinforcements, 80 per cent of the buildings in the old town were affected.
• Although the government allocated €1 billion for building improvements since the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, many properties did not meet seismic building standards. The uptake of the funding had been low.
• Despite being restored in 2012, the school in Amatrice collapsed, indicating substandard building practices.

Secondary Effects

The secondary effects of the Amatrice earthquake include:

• Landslides blocked roads, making access to the area difficult.
• Local residents suffered psychological damage.
• Individuals were reported to have been involved in looting.
• Unsafe buildings led to the town centre being cordoned off. This had a negative impact on  tourism .
• Ninety per cent of barns and stalls for sheep, goats, and cattle in the affected area were destroyed, alongside the mechanical milking systems. As a result, farmers struggled to milk by hand, leaving their cattle at risk of mastitis, an udder-tissue disease. Farmers struggled to make a living in the aftermath of the earthquake.
• The earthquake resulted in an estimated $11 billion in economic losses.

Immediate Responses

• Ten thousand homeless people were accommodated in 58 tent camps.
• Sports halls were converted to provide shelter, and hotels on the Adriatic coasts were used to home people temporarily.
• Many rescue workers arrived within an hour of the earthquake. Five thousand soldiers, alpine guides, and the Italian Red Cross were involved in searching for survivors, providing food and water, and supplying tents. Seventy dog teams and twelve helicopters were involved in the rescue effort.
• Six of the Vatican’s 37 firefighters have travelled to Amatrice to help civil  protection  workers look for survivors.
• A temporary hospital was set up, and patients at Amazatrice Hospital, severely damaged during the earthquake, were transferred to a nearby hospital in Rieti.
• Appeals were made by the national blood donation service to ensure demand was met.
• Facebook activated safety check features so local people could inform family and friends they were safe.
• Locals removed passwords from Wi-Fi at the Italian Red Cross’s request so rescue teams could communicate more effectively.
• The Italian Government announced a €50 million emergency response. Taxes for residents were cancelled, and reconstruction work began immediately.

Long-term Responses 

• Students were educated in neighbouring schools, while 12 classrooms were constructed in prefabricated buildings in Amatrice.
• Six months following the earthquake, the government promised to move people from temporary camps into wooden houses.
• The cost of rebuilding was reduced by tax incentives, allowing 65 per cent of total renovation costs to be used as tax breaks.
• Villages were rebuilt, with the building of the same character through a €42 million government initiative called ‘Italian Homes’.
• A year on, 2.4 million tons of debris and rubble remained in the areas affected by the earthquake.
• At 3:34 am on 27 February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile.
• The earthquake happened at a destructive plate margin , where the Nazca Plate subducts the South American plate.
• A series of smaller aftershocks followed it.
• Tsunami warnings were issued due to waves travelling from the epicentre across the Pacific Ocean at speeds of about 800 km/h.
• Around 500 people died, and 12,000 people were injured. Over 800,000 people were affected.
• Two hundred twenty thousand homes, 4500 schools, 56 hospitals, and 53 ports were destroyed.
• Santiago Airport and the Port of Talahuanao were severely damaged.
• The earthquake disrupted power, water supplies and communications across Chile.
• The cost of the earthquake is estimated to be US$30 billion.
• Tsunami waves devastated several coastal towns.
• The  tsunami  struck several Pacific countries; however, warnings prevented a loss of life.
• A fire at a Santiago chemical plant led to the local area being evacuated.
• Landslides destroyed up to 1500 km of roads, cutting off remote communities for days.
• Emergency services responded quickly.
• International support provided field hospitals, satellite phones and floating bridges.
• Within 24 hours, the north-south highway was temporarily repaired, allowing aid to be transported from Santiago to areas affected by the earthquake.
• Within ten days, 90% of homes had restored power and water.
• US$60 million was raised after a national appeal, which funded 30,000 small emergency shelters.
• Chile’s government launched a housing reconstruction plan just one month after the earthquake to help nearly 200,000 families.
• Chile’s strong economy reduced the need for foreign aid to fund rebuilding.
• The recovery took over four years.

Christchurch

• The earthquake struck New Zealand’s South Island, 10km west of Christchurch, at 12:51 pm on 22nd February 2011, lasting just 10 seconds.
• It measured 6.3 on the Richter Scale and had a shallow depth of 4.99 km.
• The quake occurred along a conservative margin between the Pacific and Australasian plates.

The  primary effects  included:

• Christchurch, New Zealand’s second city, experienced extensive damage
• 185 people were killed
• 3129 people were injured
• 6800 people received minor injuries
• 100,000 properties were damaged, and the earthquake demolished 10,000
• $28 billion of damage was caused
• water and sewage pipes were damaged
• the cathedral spire collapsed
• liquefaction  destroyed many roads and buildings
• 2200 people had to live in temporary housing

The  secondary effects  included:

• five Rugby World Cup matches were cancelled
• schools were closed for two weeks
• 1/5 of the population migrated from the city
• many businesses were closed for a long time
• two large aftershocks struck Christchurch less than four months after the city was devastated
• Economists have suggested that it will take 50 to 100 years for New Zealand’s economy to recover
• 80% of respondents to a post-event survey stated that their lives had changed significantly since the earthquake

The  immediate responses  included:

• around $6-7 million of aid was provided
• International aid was provided
• The Red Cross and other charities supplied aid workers
• rescue crews from all over the world, including the UK, USA, Taiwan and Australia, provided support
• more than 300 Australian police officers flew into Christchurch three days after the earthquake. They were sworn in with New Zealand policing powers and worked alongside New Zealand officers, enforcing law and order and reassuring the people of Christchurch
• 30,000 residents were provided with chemical toilets

The long-term responses included:

• the construction of around 10,000 affordable homes
• water and sewage were restored by August 2011
• the New Zealand government provided temporary housing
• Many NGOs provided support, including Save the Children
• Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was created to organise the rebuilding of the region. It had special powers to change planning  laws and regulations.
• A 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeast coast, 250 miles from Tokyo, at a depth of 20 miles on March 11, 2011, at 2:46 pm local time.
• Occurred 250 miles off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island.
• The earthquake resulted from the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, a destructive plate margin.
• Built-up friction over time led to a massive ‘megathrust’ earthquake.
• Energy release was 600 million times the energy of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.
• Post-earthquake studies found a thin, slippery clay layer in the subduction zone , which allowed a significant plate displacement of 164 feet and contributed to the massive earthquake and tsunami .
• The combination of the earthquake’s shallow depth and high magnitude generated a devastating tsunami.
• 15,894 people died, and 26,152 were injured.
• 130,927 displaced, with 2,562 missing.
• 332,395 buildings, 2,126 roads, 56 bridges, and 26 railways damaged or destroyed.
• 300 hospitals damaged, 11 destroyed.
• Over 4.4 million households in northeast Japan were without electricity.
• Significant disruptions to Japan’s transport network.
• Coastal land subsidence by over 50 cm in some areas.
• Due to tectonic shifts, North East Japan moved 2.4 m closer to North America.
• Pacific plate slipped westwards by 20 to 40 m.
• Seabed near the epicentre shifted by 24 m; off Miyagi province by 3 m.
• Earthquake altered Earth’s axis by 10 to 25 cm, shortening the day by 1.8 microseconds.
• Liquefaction damaged 1,046 buildings in Tokyo’s reclaimed land areas.
• The earthquake cost was estimated at US$235 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in history.
• Tsunami waves up to 40m high caused widespread devastation, killing thousands and causing damage and pollution up to 6 miles inland; only 58% heeded tsunami warnings.
• Fukushima nuclear power station experienced a meltdown in seven reactors; radiation levels spiked to over eight times the norm.
• Transport networks in rural areas were severely disrupted; the tsunami destroyed major roads and railways and derailed trains.
• The ‘Japan Move Forward Committee’ suggested young adults and teenagers could aid in rebuilding efforts.
• Coastal changes included a 250-mile stretch of coastline dropping by 0.6m, allowing the tsunami to travel further inland.
• The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings three minutes after the earthquake.
• Scientists had been able to predict where the tsunami would hit after the earthquake using modelling and forecasting technology so that responses could be directed to the appropriate areas.
• Rescue workers and around 100,000 members of the Japan Self-Defence Force were dispatched to help with search and rescue operations within hours of the tsunami hitting the coast.
• Although many search and rescue teams focused on recovering bodies washing up on shore following the tsunami, some people were rescued from under the rubble with the help of sniffer dogs.
• The government declared a 20 km  evacuation  zone around the Fukushima nuclear power plant to reduce the threat of radiation exposure to local residents.
• Japan received international help from the US military, and search and rescue teams were sent from New Zealand, India, South Korea, China and Australia.
• Access to the affected areas was restricted because many were covered in debris and mud following the tsunami, so it wasn’t easy to provide immediate support in some areas.
• Hundreds of thousands of people who had lost their homes were evacuated to temporary shelters in schools and other public buildings or relocated to other areas.
• Many evacuees came from the  exclusion zone  surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant. After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, those in the area had their radiation levels checked, and their health monitored to ensure they did not receive dangerous exposure to radiation. Many evacuated from the area around the nuclear power plant were given iodine tablets to reduce the risk of radiation poisoning.
• One month post-disaster, Japan established the Reconstruction Policy Council for National Recovery, focusing on tsunami-resilient communities.
• The government allocated 23 trillion yen for a ten-year recovery plan, introducing ‘Special Zones for Reconstruction’ to attract investments in Tohoku.
• Coastal protection policies involving seawalls and breakwaters were adopted to withstand tsunamis with a 150-year recurrence interval.
• Enacted ‘Act on the Development of Tsunami-resilient Communities’ prioritizing human life and promoting infrastructure and defence measures against major tsunamis.
• Post-earthquake, Japan faced economic challenges, with the disaster impacting stock market values and raising concerns about economic recovery.
• Infrastructure repair included 375 km of the Tohoku Expressway and Sendai Airport runway, with significant efforts from the Japanese Defence Force and the US Army.
• Reconstruction efforts also focused on restoring energy, water supply, and telecommunications infrastructure, achieving significant restoration rates by November 2011.

L’Aquila

• A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit L’Aquila, central Italy, on 6 April 2009, resulting in 309 fatalities.
• The main shock occurred at 3.32 am, causing extensive damage to the 13th-century city, situated approximately 60 miles northeast of Rome.
• This event was Italy’s most severe earthquake since the 1980 Irpinia earthquake.
• The earthquake’s cause was normal faulting on the northwest-southeast-trending Paganica Fault, influenced by extensional tectonic forces from the Tyrrhenian Basin’s opening.
• L’Aquila experienced several thousand foreshocks and aftershocks since December 2008, with over thirty exceeding a 3.5 Richter magnitude.
• The L’Aquila earthquake damaged or collapsed 3,000 to 11,000 buildings, injuring around 1,500 people, and made approximately 40,000 homeless.
• Twenty children were among the 309 fatalities, and around 40,000 individuals were displaced, with 10,000 housed in coastal hotels.
• The European Union estimated the earthquake’s total damage to be US$1.1 billion.
• Historic buildings sustained severe damage, leading to widespread abandonment. Streets were blocked by fallen masonry, and a significant aftershock damaged the local hospital.
• The Basilica of Saint Bernardino, a major Renaissance church, and its campanile were severely damaged.
• Modern structures, including the earthquake-proof wing of L’Aquila Hospital, also suffered extensive damage, leading to its closure.
• Displaced persons found temporary shelter in tented camps and hotels along the coast.
• Aftershocks from the L’Aquila earthquake triggered landslides and rockfalls, damaging homes and transportation infrastructure.
• A burst main water supply pipeline near Paganio caused a landslide and mudflow.
• Student enrollment at L’Aquila University declined post-earthquake.
• The scarcity of housing led to increased house prices and rents.
• Much of the city’s central business district was cordoned off due to unsafe buildings, resulting in some areas remaining as ‘red zones’.
• These ‘red zones’ have negatively impacted business, tourism , and income in the area.
• Hotels sheltered 10,000 people; 40,000 tents were distributed to the homeless.
• Some train carriages were repurposed as shelters.
• Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi offered his homes for temporary shelters.
• Italian Red Cross, supported by dog units and ambulances, searched for survivors and set up a temporary hospital.
• The Red Cross distributed water, meals, tents, and blankets; the British Red Cross raised £171,000.
• Mortgages, Sky TV, gas, and electricity bills were suspended.
• Italian Post Office provided free mobile calls, raised donations, and offered free delivery for small businesses.
• L’Aquila declared a state of emergency, facilitating international aid from the EU and USA.
• EU granted US$552.9 million from its Solidarity Fund for rebuilding efforts.
• Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) did not provide aid, deeming Italy capable with its resources and EU support.
• A torch-lit procession and Catholic mass are held on the anniversary for remembrance.
• Residents were exempt from taxes in 2010.
• Students received free public transport , discounts on educational equipment, and an exemption from university fees for three years.
• Home reconstruction took years; historical centres may take 15 years to rebuild.
• Six scientists and one government official were initially convicted of manslaughter for not predicting the earthquake, sentenced to six years in prison, and fined millions in damages.
• In November 2014, the convictions of the six scientists were overturned by Italian courts.

New Zealand 2016

• A magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit New Zealand’s South Island on November 14th, 2016, at 00.02 am, resulting in at least two fatalities.
• The quake was felt up to 120 miles away, including in Wellington, the capital on the North Island.
• A tsunami warning was issued two hours post-quake, advising people on the eastern coast to move inland or higher ground.
• Two people died.
• Fifty people were injured.
• Sixty people needed emergency housing.
• Over 190km of roads and 200km of railway lines were destroyed
• Twenty thousand buildings were damaged or destroyed.
• Water, sewerage & power supplies were cut off.
• Total damage is estimated at US $8.5 billion.
• One hundred thousand landslides blocked roads and railways.
• A landslide blocked the Clarence River, causing flooding. Ten farms were evacuated.
• The earthquake triggered a tsunami of 5m, leaving debris up to 250 metres inland.
• A tsunami warning was issued, and residents were told to reach higher ground.
• Hundreds were housed in emergency shelters.
• Two hundred vulnerable people were evacuated by helicopter.
• Power was restored within hours. International warships were sent to Kaikoura with food, medicine and portable toilets.
• Temporary water supplies were set up.
• Other countries sent food and medicine.
• $5.3 million from the District Council for repairs and rebuilding.
• Road and rail routes reopened within two years.
• A relief fund was set up to provide basic supplies.
• By March 2017, a permanent water main had been laid in Kaikoura. the new pipe was designed to move with any future earthquakes so it wouldn’t break

Case study – LIC/NEE earthquake

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Case Study: Japan 2010 Tsunami

Impacts of the japan earthquake in 2011.

Japan is a developed country in east Asia. Japan's geography is dominated by islands. The country is a high-risk area for tectonic hazards.

What caused the 2011 Japan tsunami?

• There was an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 in northeast Japan on the 11th March 2011.
• The earthquake is known as the Tohoku earthquake.

Primary impacts

• 1 million buildings were damaged and over 120,000 buildings were completely destroyed.
• Many buildings sunk into the ground because of liquefaction, which is when waterlogged soil acts like a liquid.

Secondary impacts

• The tsunami that was caused by the earthquake caused thousands of deaths (it is hard to know how many people died in the earthquake or the tsunami and lots of people are still missing).
• More than 150,000 people became homeless and in 2017, 6 years on, 50,000 people still had no homes.
• The tsunami damaged the Fukushima nuclear power station. Electricity could no longer reach Fukushima and there was a nuclear meltdown at the plant, releasing toxic nuclear waste into the local area.
• Railways lines were destroyed by the tsunami.

Long-term impact and response

• Economists estimate that the total damage done by the earthquake and tsunami is $200 bn. This is the largest amount of damage caused by any natural disaster ever.
• Japan was a high income country and had a new tsunami warning system. But, studies suggest that only 58% paid any attention to the tsunami warning.
• In the 12 months after the Tohoku earthquake, there were 5,000 aftershocks in Japan.

1 Geography Skills

1.1 Mapping

1.1.1 Map Making

1.1.2 OS Maps

1.1.3 Grid References

1.1.4 Contour Lines

1.1.5 Symbols, Scale and Distance

1.1.6 Directions on Maps

1.1.7 Describing Routes

1.1.8 Map Projections

1.1.9 Aerial & Satellite Images

1.1.10 Using Maps to Make Decisions

1.2 Geographical Information Systems

1.2.1 Geographical Information Systems

1.2.2 How do Geographical Information Systems Work?

1.2.3 Using Geographical Information Systems

1.2.4 End of Topic Test - Geography Skills

2 Geology of the UK

2.1 The UK's Rocks

2.1.1 The UK's Main Rock Types

2.1.2 The UK's Landscape

2.1.3 Using Rocks

2.1.4 Weathering

2.2 Case Study: The Peak District

2.2.1 The Peak District

2.2.2 Limestone Landforms

2.2.3 Quarrying

3 Geography of the World

3.1 Geography of America & Europe

3.1.1 North America

3.1.2 South America

3.1.3 Europe

3.1.4 The European Union

3.1.5 The Continents

3.1.6 The Oceans

3.1.7 Longitude

3.1.8 Latitude

3.1.9 End of Topic Test - Geography of the World

4 Development

4.1 Development

4.1.1 Classifying Development

4.1.3 Evaluation of GDP

4.1.4 The Human Development Index

4.1.5 Population Structure

4.1.6 Developing Countries

4.1.7 Emerging Countries

4.1.8 Developed Countries

4.1.9 Comparing Development

4.2 Uneven Development

4.2.1 Consequences of Uneven Development

4.2.2 Physical Factors Affecting Development

4.2.3 Historic Factors Affecting Development

4.2.4 Human & Social Factors Affecting Development

4.2.5 Breaking Out of the Poverty Cycle

4.3 Case Study: Democratic Republic of Congo

4.3.1 The DRC: An Overview

4.3.2 Political & Social Factors Affecting Development

4.3.3 Environmental Factors Affecting the DRC

4.3.4 The DRC: Aid

4.3.5 The Pros & Cons of Aid in DRC

4.3.6 Top-Down vs Bottom-Up in DRC

4.3.7 The DRC: Comparison with the UK

4.3.8 The DRC: Against Malaria Foundation

4.4 Case Study: Nigeria

4.4.1 The Importance & Development of Nigeria

4.4.2 Nigeria's Relationships with the Rest of the World

4.4.3 Urban Growth in Lagos

4.4.4 Population Growth in Lagos

4.4.5 Factors influencing Nigeria's Growth

4.4.6 Nigeria: Comparison with the UK

5 Weather & Climate

5.1 Weather

5.1.1 Weather & Climate

5.1.2 Components of Weather

5.1.3 Temperature

5.1.4 Sunshine, Humidity & Air Pressure

5.1.5 Cloud Cover

5.1.6 Precipitation

5.1.7 Convectional Precipitation

5.1.8 Frontal Precipitation

5.1.9 Relief or Orographic Precipitation

5.1.10 Wind

5.1.11 Extreme Wind

5.1.12 Recording the Weather

5.1.13 Extreme Weather

5.2 Climate

5.2.1 Climate of the British Isles

5.2.2 Comparing Weather & Climate London

5.2.3 Climate of the Tropical Rainforest

5.2.4 End of Topic Test - Weather & Climate

5.3 Tropical Storms

5.3.1 Formation of Tropical Storms

5.3.2 Features of Tropical Storms

5.3.3 The Structure of Tropical Storms

5.3.4 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Effects

5.3.5 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Responses

6 The World of Work

6.1 Tourism

6.1.1 Landscapes

6.1.2 The Growth of Tourism

6.1.3 Benefits of Tourism

6.1.4 Economic Costs of Tourism

6.1.5 Social, Cultural & Environmental Costs of Tourism

6.1.6 Tourism Case Study: Blackpool

6.1.7 Ecotourism

6.1.8 Tourism Case Study: Kenya

7 Natural Resources

7.1.1 What are Rocks?

7.1.2 Types of Rock

7.1.4 The Rock Cycle - Weathering

7.1.5 The Rock Cycle - Erosion

7.1.6 What is Soil?

7.1.7 Soil Profiles

7.1.8 Water

7.1.9 Global Water Demand

7.2 Fossil Fuels

7.2.1 Introduction to Fossil Fuels

7.2.2 Fossil Fuels

7.2.3 The Global Energy Supply

7.2.5 What is Peak Oil?

7.2.6 End of Topic Test - Natural Resources

8.1 River Processes & Landforms

8.1.1 Overview of Rivers

8.1.2 The Bradshaw Model

8.1.3 Erosion

8.1.4 Sediment Transport

8.1.5 River Deposition

8.1.6 River Profiles: Long Profiles

8.1.7 River Profiles: Cross Profiles

8.1.8 Waterfalls & Gorges

8.1.9 Interlocking Spurs

8.1.10 Meanders

8.1.11 Floodplains

8.1.12 Levees

8.1.13 Case Study: River Tees

8.2 Rivers & Flooding

8.2.1 Flood Risk Factors

8.2.2 Flood Management: Hard Engineering

8.2.3 Flood Management: Soft Engineering

8.2.4 Flooding Case Study: Boscastle

8.2.5 Flooding Case Study: Consequences of Boscastle

8.2.6 Flooding Case Study: Responses to Boscastle

8.2.7 Flooding Case Study: Bangladesh

8.2.8 End of Topic Test - Rivers

8.2.9 Rivers Case Study: The Nile

8.2.10 Rivers Case Study: The Mississippi

9.1 Formation of Coastal Landforms

9.1.1 Weathering

9.1.2 Erosion

9.1.3 Headlands & Bays

9.1.4 Caves, Arches & Stacks

9.1.5 Wave-Cut Platforms & Cliffs

9.1.6 Waves

9.1.7 Longshore Drift

9.1.8 Coastal Deposition

9.1.9 Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

9.2 Coast Management

9.2.1 Management Strategies for Coastal Erosion

9.2.2 Case Study: The Holderness Coast

9.2.3 Case Study: Lyme Regis

9.2.4 End of Topic Test - Coasts

10 Glaciers

10.1 Overview of Glaciers & How They Work

10.1.1 Distribution of Glaciers

10.1.2 Types of Glaciers

10.1.3 The Last Ice Age

10.1.4 Formation & Movement of Glaciers

10.1.5 Shaping of Landscapes by Glaciers

10.1.6 Glacial Landforms Created by Erosion

10.1.7 Glacial Till & Outwash Plain

10.1.8 Moraines

10.1.9 Drumlins & Erratics

10.1.10 End of Topic Tests - Glaciers

10.1.11 Tourism in Glacial Landscapes

10.1.12 Strategies for Coping with Tourists

10.1.13 Case Study - Lake District: Tourism

10.1.14 Case Study - Lake District: Management

11 Tectonics

11.1 Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics

11.1.1 The Theory of Plate Tectonics

11.1.2 The Structure of the Earth

11.1.3 Tectonic Plates

11.1.4 Plate Margins

11.2 Volcanoes

11.2.1 Volcanoes & Their Products

11.2.2 The Development of Volcanoes

11.2.3 Living Near Volcanoes

11.3 Earthquakes

11.3.1 Overview of Earthquakes

11.3.2 Consequences of Earthquakes

11.3.3 Case Study: Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake

11.4 Tsunamis

11.4.1 Formation of Tsunamis

11.4.2 Case Study: Japan 2010 Tsunami

11.5 Managing the Risk of Volcanoes & Earthquakes

11.5.1 Coping With Earthquakes & Volcanoes

11.5.2 End of Topic Test - Tectonics

12 Climate Change

12.1 The Causes & Consequences of Climate Change

12.1.1 Evidence for Climate Change

12.1.2 Natural Causes of Climate Change

12.1.3 Human Causes of Climate Change

12.1.4 The Greenhouse Effect

12.1.5 Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

12.1.6 Effects of Climate Change on People

12.1.7 Climate Change Predictions

12.1.8 Uncertainty About Future Climate Change

12.1.9 Mitigating Against Climate Change

12.1.10 Adapting to Climate Change

12.1.11 Case Study: Bangladesh

13 Global Population & Inequality

13.1 Global Populations

13.1.1 World Population

13.1.2 Population Structure

13.1.3 Ageing Populations

13.1.4 Youthful Populations

13.1.5 Population Control

13.1.6 Mexico to USA Migration

13.1.7 End of Topic Test - Development & Population

14 Urbanisation

14.1 Urbanisation

14.1.1 Rural Characterisitcs

14.1.2 Urban Characteristics

14.1.3 Urbanisation Growth

14.1.4 The Land Use Model

14.1.5 Rural-Urban Pull Factors

14.1.6 Rural-Urban Push Factors

14.1.7 The Impacts of Migration

14.1.8 Challenges of Urban Areas in Developed Countries

14.1.9 Challenges of Urban Areas in Developing Countries

14.1.10 Urban Sustainability

14.1.11 Case Study: China's Urbanisation

14.1.12 Major UK Cities

14.1.13 Urbanisation in the UK

14.1.14 End of Topic Test- Urbanisation

14.1.15 End of Topic Test - Urban Issues

15 Ecosystems

15.1 The Major Biomes

15.1.1 Distribution of Major Biomes

15.1.2 What Affects the Distribution of Biomes?

15.1.3 Biome Features: Tropical Forests

15.1.4 Biome Features: Temperate Forests

15.1.5 Biome Features: Tundra

15.1.6 Biome Features: Deserts

15.1.7 Biome Features: Tropical Grasslands

15.1.8 Biome Features: Temperate Grasslands

15.2 Case Study: The Amazon Rainforest

15.2.1 Interdependence of Rainforest Ecosystems

15.2.2 Nutrient Cycling in Tropical Rainforests

15.2.3 Deforestation in the Amazon

15.2.4 Impacts of Deforestation in the Amazon

15.2.5 Protecting the Amazon

15.2.6 Adaptations of Plants to Rainforests

15.2.7 Adaptations of Animals to Rainforests

16 Life in an Emerging Country

16.1 Case Studies

16.1.1 Mumbai: Opportunities

16.1.2 Mumbai: Challenges

17 Analysis of Africa

17.1 Africa

17.1.1 Desert Biomes in Africa

17.1.2 The Semi-Desert Biome

17.1.3 The Savanna Biome

17.1.4 Overview of Tropical Rainforests

17.1.5 Colonisation History

17.1.6 Population Distribution in Africa

17.1.7 Economic Resources in Africa

17.1.8 Urbanisation in Africa

17.1.9 Africa's Location

17.1.10 Physical Geography of Africa

17.1.11 Desertification in Africa

17.1.12 Reducing the Risk of Desertification

17.1.13 Case Study: The Sahara Desert - Opportunities

17.1.14 Case Study: The Sahara Desert - Development

18 Analysis of India

18.1 India - Physical Geography

18.1.1 Geographical Location of India

18.1.2 Physical Geography of India

18.1.3 India's Climate

18.1.4 Natural Disasters in India

18.1.5 Case Study: The Thar Desert

18.1.6 Case Study: The Thar Desert - Challenges

18.2 India - Human Geography

18.2.1 Population Distribution in India

18.2.2 Urabinsation in India

18.2.3 The History of India

18.2.4 Economic Resources in India

19 Analysis of the Middle East

19.1 The Middle East

19.1.1 Physical Geography of the Middle East

19.1.2 Human Geography of the Middle East

19.1.3 Climate Zones in the Middle East

19.1.4 Climate Comparison with the UK

19.1.5 Oil & Natural Gas in the Middle East

19.1.6 Water in the Middle East

19.1.7 Population of the Middle East

19.1.8 Development Case Studies: The UAE

19.1.9 Development Case Studies: Yemen

19.1.10 Supporting Development in Yemen

19.1.11 Connection to the UK

19.1.12 Importance of Oil

19.1.13 Oil & Tourism in the UAE

20 Analysis of Bangladesh

20.1 Bangladesh Physical Geography

20.1.1 Location of Bangladesh

20.1.2 Climate of Bangladesh

20.1.3 Rivers in Bangladesh

20.1.4 Flooding in Bangladesh

20.2 Bangladesh Human Geography

20.2.1 Population Structure in Bangladesh

20.2.2 Urbanisation in Bangladesh

20.2.3 Bangladesh's Economy

20.2.4 Energy & Sustainability in Bangladesh

21 Analysis of Russia

21.1 Russia's Physical Geography

21.1.1 Russia's Climate

21.1.2 Russia's Landscape

21.2 Russia's Human Geography

21.2.1 Population of Russia

21.2.2 Russia's Economy

21.2.3 Energy & Sustainability in Russia

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• Natural hazards
• Created by: Janelle M
• Created on: 05-06-18 21:49
• Friday 11 March 2011 at 14:46, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on Richter scale occurred.
• The epicenter was 30 km below the pacific Ocean seabed and 129 km off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
• It was at the point where the Pacific tectonic plate slides beneath the North American plate.
• This triggered a tsunami
• High, powerful waves were generated and travelled across the Pacific Ocean
• The area worst affected by the tsunami was the east coast of Honshu in Japan
• the waves travelled as far as 10 km inland in Sendai
• the tsunami flooded an area of approx. 561 square km
• ports and airports in Sendai were damaged and closed
• the waves destroyed protective tsunami seawalls at several locations
• The massive surge destroyed three- storey buildings where people had gathered for safety
• a state of emergency was declared at the Furushima nuclear power plant, where cooling systems failed and released radioactive materials into the environment .
• In July, TEPCO, the Tokyo Electric Power Company, admitted that about 300 tons of radioactive water continued to leak from the plant everyday into the pacific Ocean
• four years after the quake, around 230,000 people who lost their homes were still living in temporary housing
• The total damages from the earthquake and tsunami are estimated at $300 billion (approx. 25 trillion Yen)
• The number of confirmed deaths as of 10 April 2015 is 15,891. More than 2,500 people are still reported missing
• The country recently unveiled a newly-installed, upgraded tsunami warning system
• Earthquake engineers examined the damage, looking for ways to construct buildings that are more resistant to quakes and tsunamis. Studies are ongoing

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KS3 Geography - Tsunami Case Study - Japan, 2011

Subject: Geography

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

2 November 2023

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Case study lesson on the causes, impacts and responses to the Tsunami in Japan,

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Case Study: How does Japan live with earthquakes?

Japan lies within one of the most tectonically active zones in the world. It experiences over 400 earthquakes every day. The majority of these are not felt by humans and are only detected by instruments. Japan has been hit by a number of high-intensity earthquakes in the past. Since 2000 there are have been 16000 fatalities as the result of tectonic activity.

Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the North American, Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine plates come together. Northern Japan is on top of the western tip of the North American plate. Southern Japan sits mostly above the Eurasian plate. This leads to the formation of volcanoes such as Mount Unzen and Mount Fuji. Movements along these plate boundaries also present the risk of tsunamis to the island nation. The Pacific Coastal zone, on the east coast of Japan, is particularly vulnerable as it is very densely populated.

The 2011 Japan Earthquake: Tōhoku

Japan experienced one of its largest seismic events on March 11 2011. A magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred 70km off the coast of the northern island of Honshu where the Pacific and North American plate meet. It is the largest recorded earthquake to hit Japan and is in the top five in the world since records began in 1900. The earthquake lasted for six minutes.

A map to show the location of the 2011 Japan Earthquake

The earthquake had a significant impact on the area. The force of the megathrust earthquake caused the island of Honshu to move east 2.4m. Parts of the Japanese coastline dr[[ed by 60cm. The seabed close to the focus of the earthquake rose by 7m and moved westwards between 40-50m. In addition to this, the earthquake shifted the Earth 10-15cm on its axis.

The earthquake triggered a tsunami which reached heights of 40m when it reached the coast. The tsunami wave reached 10km inland in some places.

What were the social impacts of the Japanese earthquake in 2011?

The tsunami in 2011 claimed the lives of 15,853 people and injured 6023. The majority of the victims were over the age of 60 (66%). 90% of the deaths was caused by drowning. The remaining 10% died as the result of being crushed in buildings or being burnt. 3282 people were reported missing, presumed dead.

Disposing of dead bodies proved to be very challenging because of the destruction to crematoriums, morgues and the power infrastructure. As the result of this many bodies were buried in mass graves to reduce the risk of disease spreading.

Many people were displaced as the result of the tsunami. According to Save the Children 100,000 children were separated from their families. The main reason for this was that children were at school when the earthquake struck. In one elementary school, 74 of 108 students and 10 out of 13 staff lost their lives.

More than 333000 people had to live in temporary accommodation. National Police Agency of Japan figures shows almost 300,000 buildings were destroyed and a further one million damaged, either by the quake, tsunami or resulting fires. Almost 4,000 roads, 78 bridges and 29 railways were also affected. Reconstruction is still taking place today. Some communities have had to be relocated from their original settlements.

What were the economic impacts of the Japanese earthquake in 2011?

The estimated cost of the earthquake, including reconstruction, is £181 billion. Japanese authorities estimate 25 million tonnes of debris were generated in the three worst-affected prefectures (counties). This is significantly more than the amount of debris created during the 2010 Haiti earthquake. 47,700 buildings were destroyed and 143,300 were damaged. 230,000 vehicles were destroyed or damaged. Four ports were destroyed and a further 11 were affected in the northeast of Japan.

There was a significant impact on power supplies in Japan. 4.4 million households and businesses lost electricity. 11 nuclear reactors were shut down when the earthquake occurred. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was decommissioned because all six of its reactors were severely damaged. Seawater disabled the plant’s cooling systems which caused the reactor cores to meltdown, leading to the release of radioactivity. Radioactive material continues to be released by the plant and vegetation and soil within the 30km evacuation zone is contaminated. Power cuts continued for several weeks after the earthquake and tsunami. Often, these lasted between 3-4 hours at a time. The earthquake also had a negative impact on the oil industry as two refineries were set on fire during the earthquake.

Transport was also negatively affected by the earthquake. Twenty-three train stations were swept away and others experienced damage. Many road bridges were damaged or destroyed.

Agriculture was affected as salt water contaminated soil and made it impossible to grow crops.

The stock market crashed and had a negative impact on companies such as Sony and Toyota as the cost of the earthquake was realised.  Production was reduced due to power cuts and assembly of goods, such as cars overseas, were affected by the disruption in the supply of parts from Japan.

What were the political impacts of the Japanese earthquake in 2011?

Government debt was increased when it injects billions of yen into the economy. This was at a time when the government were attempting to reduce the national debt.

Several years before the disaster warnings had been made about the poor defences that existed at nuclear power plants in the event of a tsunami. A number of executives at the Fukushima power plant resigned in the aftermath of the disaster. A movement against nuclear power, which Japan heavily relies on, developed following the tsunami.

The disaster at Fukushima added political weight in European countries were anti-nuclear bodies used the event to reinforce their arguments against nuclear power.

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