Tectonic Hazard Human Impacts

Christina, Max, Yve, Thea and Amie

“What impacts do tectonic hazards have on people and how do these impacts vary”

•The reasons why people live in tectonically active areas and how this might relate to the level of economic development•The range of hazards associated with different types of tectonic activity•The specific impacts of a range of tectonic hazards at a range of different scales at locations in countries at different stages of development•Trends in frequency and impact over time

The reasons why people live in tectonically active areas and how this might relate to the level of economic development

Why people live in tectonically active areas?

-People may stay in hazardous locations because of a lack in alternatives. Very poor people may have to live in unsafe locations near volcanoes or locations susceptible to earthquakes as they don’t have the economic means to move to a different place.

-Many people way up the benefits and costs- the economic benefits may outweigh the perceived risks of living on fertile farming land on the flanks of a volcano for example.

-Perceptions can be optimistic, having faith in technology to overcome the risks.

-There may be traditional, historical or cultural reasons for living close to volcanoes e.g believing volcanoes were ‘sleeping gods’- inertia has prevented people from moving to a safer location.

Geography – Geographical ResearchPhillip Alan UpdatesAlan and Holmes

2009

Iceland - MEDCMany see economic benefits to be a reason to stay in the area

and for many MEDC countries, these activities can be tracked so arguably pose little danger - An example of this is the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. This geothermal energy, from different areas of Iceland, powers 70% of homes, providing 10% of the country’s overall energy.

https://www.examtime.com Geothermal power plant (Stephen Lacey, November 20, 2008)

Ignorance – Mt St Helens Ignorance is also another factor for people living in areas

with high tectonic activity. An example of this would Harry Randall Truman, after despite being told to evacuate refused to leave. He believed that due to the Volcano being over a mile away, he was not susceptible to any danger from it and so didn’t leave.

Many scientists diedwhile monitoring the eruption of Mt St Helens – a total of 50 people died even with the imminent warningsof the eruption.

Wikipedia.com

INERTIA – EL BOQUERON

Friends and family (inertia): Some families have lived in hazardous locations for generations. Their family homes and business are located in the area and people simply don't want to leave or possibly can't afford to leave.

El Boqueron has created a number of benefits for local residents. More people are also choosing to live on its slopes because of shortage of space in downtown San Salvador, but also because it is cooler, safer (from criminality) and less congested. Because El Boqueron has not erupted for nearly 100 years, citizens feel safe living under it.

http://greenfieldgeography.wikispaces.com/

Vulnerable Populations - Why Live Near Hazards?

The range of hazards associated with different types of tectonic activity and general impacts

Impact types

Volcano and earthquakes example impacts

Social Human Costs e.g. primary secondary and tertiary casualties. Hazards can also cause misery and suffering as well as poor health e.g. loss of electricity/service/infrastructure.

Economic Costs of repairing damage. Indirect costs/secondary impacts such as loss of earnings loss of tourism income.

The impact that tectonic hazards have on people be grouped into social and economic…

Geography – Geographical ResearchPhillip Alan UpdatesAlan and Holmes

2009

General Facts

Geography – Geographical ResearchPhillip Alan UpdatesAlan and Holmes

2009

Earthquakes-        Islands zones between Pacific and Eurasian plates have experienced 65 destructive earthquakes in the last 400 years, the worst killing 1,700 people in 1990.

Volcanoes-        In 1991 Mt Pinatubo caused 350 deaths and 58,000 evacuated in the Philippines.

Tsunamis-        Coastal Areas are at the greatest risk, in 1976 Moro Gulf Tsunami- 5000 people died, thousands more missing.

Beneficial?Hazards can have beneficial impacts on people. These include geothermal sources of energy, rich fertile soils and minerals such as gold. There are potential income streams associated with tourism foreign exchange also.Diamond mine – (Diamonds are

created in tectonically active areas)www.ibtimes.co.uk

Geography – Geographical ResearchPhillip Alan UpdatesAlan and Holmes2009

The specific impacts of a range of tectonic hazards at a range of different scales at locations in countries at different stages of development

Haiti Earthquake Impact of Earthquake

Haiti EarthquakeThe Aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake

David RedfernGeography Review

Philip AllanSeptember 2011

Population

People who had been forced to build informal settlements in areas

like this had even worse infrastructure than those in the

towns. Water and sewerage systems were particularly poor in

such areas

Political

There has been much criticism of the slow pace of rebuilding and

there have been many claims and counter-claims about the relief

efforts. However, any rebuilding work will be wasted unless the aid agencies and the Haiti government work together to establish priorities,

rebuild infrastructure and involve the local people with their local

knowledge.

Health

In mid-October 2010, cholera was first reported. The squalid

conditions and the damaged infrastructure in the refugee

camps had caused increases in many diseases, particularly

intestinal infections.

Cultural

The cholera outbreak led to anti-UN riots in November. Some Haitians turned their anger on

peacekeepers from Nepal accused of bringing the disease into the

Caribbean country

BAJA Earthquake California In 2010, the BAJA California earthquake was magnitude of 7.2

but only killed 4 people and injured 100. The earthquake in 2010 in Haiti with a magnitude of 7 had roughly 300,000 deaths.

The tectonic earthquake resulted in a secondary landslide but did not result in any major impacts.

This was because of improved building design people now feel more confident of living in hazardous areas. Buildings are now designed to withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. Most countries also have pretty strict regulations when building new structures.

www.dec.org.uk

- disasters emergency committee.

Geography – Geographical ResearchPhillip Alan UpdatesAlan and Holmes

2009

“Deaths by volcanic activity is around 1000 per year.”

Volcano eruption in LEDC -Mt Merapi, Java (2010)December 2010 Mt Merapi erupted causing some 350 deaths. The city of Yogyacarta suffered from lahars .

280,000 took refuge in 700 emergency shelters. There reports of poor sanitation, and not enough toilets or clean drinking water. More than 2,000 homes were destroyed, 350,000 people evacuated, airports closed. Financial losses are estimated at US$781 million.

http://www.explorevolcanoes.com/

Volcano eruption MEDC – Mt St Helens (1980)

Primary effects Secondary effects

Nuée ardente (hot ash and gas) destroyed forests and logging camps.63 people were killed, mainly by poisonous gases.Lahars (mudflows of ash and water) covered an extensive area surrounding the volcano.

Ash blocked rivers destroying popular fishing sites and causing flooding. This in turn destroyed crops and livestock.Flooding destroyed communications such as road and railway bridges.Sediment carried downstream ruined barge transport on the Columbia River.

Effects of the eruption

Mount St Helens is on the plate boundary between the Juan de Fuca plate and North American plate. When it erupted it permanently changed the surrounding landscape.

www.bbc.co.ukGeographyVolcanoes and volcanic eruptionsCase study: Mount St Helens 1980 (MEDC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OSlWoXf7sI

First Tsunami Wave Hits Kanyakumari 2004

The Kraft Studio - 2008

BOXING DAY TSUNAMI - 2004

Flooding and contamination of drinking water can cause disease to spread in the tsunami hit areas. Illnesses such as malaria arise when water is stagnant and contaminated.  

Survivors of the Sri Lankan tsunami of December 2004 were found to have PTSD when examined by the WHO

These people were suffering from grief and depression as their homes, businesses and loved ones were taken from them.

PTSD = post traumatic stress disorder WHO = world health organisation

www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/

/

Tsunami Impacts MEDC -Japan

More than 18,000 people were killed in the disaster. Most died by drowning. The waves overtopped and destroyed protective tsunami seawalls at several locations. The tsunami caused a cooling system failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which resulted in a level 7 nuclear meltdown and release of radioactive materials.

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011: Facts and Information

by Becky Oskin, Senior Writer August, 2013

Trends in frequency and impact over time

Trends in ImpactImpacts can be measured in a number of ways, but typically they are reported in terms of number of deaths or casualties together with economic impacts.

The graph shows the number of deaths from geological hazards (including landslides/mass movements). Impacts seem to have been constant over time, apart from large increase in 1988, but death and casualties are usually lower than those of hydro-meteorological hazards.

1987

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0

5000000

10000000

15000000

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30000000

No. of deaths from geological hazards

Number of victims (death + affected)

Trends in impact The no. of people reported

killed dropped dramatically after the 70s then levelled off in 80s and 90s

The no. of people reported affected by hazards/disasters has increased each decade

The economic losses have grown exponentially

The no. of reported disasters has grown significantly.

(this is for both hydro-meteorological and tectonic)

Natural Hazards and DisastersHolmes and Warn

Phillip Alan Updates 2008

Critiquing disaster Stats

Is the source reliable? How good are statistics?

Governments report stats to UN agencies which are cross-checked by those that also monitor reports from media and internet. The pre-eminent authority is CRED supported by World Bank and insurance companies

Reporting disaster deaths is controversial because it can depend on whether the cause is direct or indirect.

E.g. the 2004 Tsunami’s effects in Myanmar were ignored by the media, but overstated in parts if Thailand because of tourism.

Statistics are difficult to collect in rural parts of LEDCs (e.g. Kashmir earthquake) or densely populated squatter settlements.

Natural Hazards and Disasters, Holmes and Warn, Phillip Alan Updates 2008

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