IB+Hazards+Earthquake+Japan

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 * sCase Study: Earthquake in an MEDC - Japan 2011**

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Where did it happen?

 * A written description of the location.
 * A map of the location including points of geographical interest.
 * Can you produce a sketch map of the location?

The earthquake in Japan happened at the coast of Japan. The distance from the epicenter of the earthquake to Japan's coast was about 130km away and 370km away from Tokyo. The earthquake hit Japan at an area which was spread out more than 600km at the coast. In ther near of the coast, in Fukushima, is a nuclear power plant located.

[|QuakeMap - Change Magnitude to 7 to see only the big one(s)]

When did it happen?
11 March : >14:46 massive earthquake (8.9 on Richter Scale ) >More than 50 aftershocks occured in the next hours. >A Tsunami deveploped and hit Japan on the east 13 March >Nuclear power plant in danger >Nuclear plant explodes ( one reactor ) 14 March >another reactor exploded. [|Japan Quake Facts] [|TImeline of the Disaster] [|Timeline]
 * Date. : 11th of march 2011
 * Time (local). : 14:46
 * Duration. : 3-5 min.
 * Include the sequence of events to show the speed of onset and the pace of management and recovery.

Why did it happen?
The movement of Japan's tectonic plates have cause a devastation as the a Earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 hit. The pacific plate has been moving west 9cm each year causing stress on the North America tectonic plate. The emense stress placed on the upper plate being pushed beneath ,has caused this massive sesimic activity to occur. This subduction zone is where the violent movement called 'thrusting faulting' forced the American plate upwards resulting in this destructive quake.
 * The physical conditions that caused the hazard
 * If the hazard is tectonic - what is it's tectonic setting?
 * If the hazard is metrological - what metrological conditions caused the hazard?

Hundreds of aftershocks continued to hit Japan for more then two, giving them no time to look for survivors. Thirty of these afterschocks measured a magnitued 6 with warning thats there was a 70% possiblity that the tremors would reach a magnitude 7 or higher,in the subsequent days. It has been predictied that these afterschocks will continue for years due to the intentsity of the quake, but during time will continue to weaken.

Afterschock map

[|Japan's Explosive Geology Explained]

Who was affected by it happening?
>>> The Fukushima nuclear power plant prompted mass evacuations resulting in the radioactive iodine- 131 destroying crops, water supplies, milk, fish and beef. Ultimately leaving exports at an all time low, dropping as much as 10% a single day. >>> In hopes of stabilising the economy the Bank of Japan injected $325 billion yen into the economy with costs of re-building ranging from $235 billion to $310 billion. Economic forecasters have now predicted that the GPD (GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT) may decline by 1% for the year. >>> Because of the earthquake a lot of industrial transport ways were blocked. The industry in japan is almost completely blocked. Harbors, companies and streets are destroyed and are not able to be used any longer. The earthquake changed the whole world economy. A big part of this is the japanes car industry, like Toyota, Nissan and Honda. All of them had to stop their work and especially Toyota had to stop 12 different companies. The technical companies are affected as well, Sony had to stop their productions. This means a lot shipments cant be put place in the future. A lot countries need to get the products of japan. >>> The biggest economic problem in japan is the destroyed infrastructure, the transport ways to the cities are blocked, and there is no electricity in some areas. >>> More than 11 Reactors in 4 different power plants are not able to transport electricity any longer. Because of the already existence liabilities of the country there will be much more liabilities for the country because of the rebuildings. > >>> >>> >>> For the people in Japan it was normal, like in every other high developed country, to go outside to the supermarket and get something to eat, or go in the bathroom and have a shower or even watch TV. After the earthquake which happened in March 2011 in some areas in japan this is not able any more. The earthquake damaged theh country so hard that the entire infrastructure which existed, is gone. Hospitals, supermarkets, electricity, transport ways, etc. are not useful now. >>> The people now try to survive and are not able to do anything. >>> Especially in the area of fukushima the people cant be sure if they will survive this earthquale, even if its already gone. They have to check if they are nuclear affected. >>> Currently the Japanese government is changing as Kann recently announced his intentions to resign. The successor and current prime minister of the democratic party of Japan is Yoshikiko Noda. His first action regarding the Earthquake disaster of 2011 was to phase out the usages of Nuclear energy by not building any new power plants. But due to the immediate demands of energy currently idle power plants will be restarted in hopes to boost Japans economy.
 * What were the effects/consequences of the hazard event?
 * Categorize the effects/consequences as being:
 * Economic - It took only minutes after the Japanese before the extent of damage on the Economy became clear. Japan’s economy went into a free fall as hundreds of factories shut across the country stopping the production and many left with nothing. The bank of Japan is preparing to contribute billions of Yen into the economy as this disaster leaves the entire country in a state of emergency.
 * Social >Many people lost their homes and family. 15700 people died, 5720 were injured, 4800 are still missing. The whole infrastructure was destroyed in some parts, people did not know how to get to save places and could only wait for help after everything was over. But the main problem was not while the earthquake, it was after everything was over because poeple searched for food/ drinks, family members and for everything tha was not destroyed. They did not know how everything around them was destroyed to. I this time people from all over the world were getting ready to help.
 * Environmental
 * soil liquefaction – where the soil behaves like water / quick sand. Things can sink, and it makes the ground very unstable. Structures built on top are likely to collapse.
 * drop in elevation by 0.29 to 0.89m, leaving areas more prone to flooding
 * Radiation exposure – Fukishima I & II lost their cooling systems and as result there were leaks leading to high levels of radiation up to 100km away.
 * Many food products and farms have had to be destroyed due to high levels of radiatoin
 * Increased levels of iodine found in the water
 * Pollution: batteries, heavy industrial chemicals, scrap metals etc.
 * Surface ruptures and ground cracks
 * Sediment and marine deposits
 * Salination of previously arable soil
 * Political- The Japanese government has been harshly scrutinized in the past, as before the disaster prime minister Kann was on the brink or losing his title. But despite falling popularity Kann rejected the calls the step down while Japan was in crisis. This gave Japan the sense of unity as they began to realise the extent of the damage to their country.

[|Before and After Satellite Pictures] [|Japan Quake: Technology lifeline for businesses] [|Japanese exports fall 2.2% due to tsunami] [|Japan's nuclear reactor problem explained] [|What makes the nuclear disaster a level 7?]

What happened?
> Evacuation: > Residents which were in the No-go zone of Fukushima had to be evacuated. More than 80,000 residents in the radius of 20 km of the power plant were evacuated. And in the radius of 20-30km were a “stay-inside” policy created. A wider evacuation zone has been put place when the radiation levels were expected to increase. The evacuation zone is now up to 30km radius to the fukushima.More than 5,000 people moved in to publich houses, hotels or other facilities in nearby cities. > > Like said below people from all over the world came to help. The helpers brought food / save water and medics. The local people could not help each other because everything was destroyed and people did not have a plan to rebuild the town or single houses. And thats not all because many people rather searched their friends and family members than to help building houses etc. Thatwhy special teams arrived in these areas to search for living people that got lost during the hazard. The job of the helpers was first to search for people that survived and were stuck and then after a few days to build up the local towns and their infrastructure. > On March 11, 14:46 local time, an earthquake hit Japan with a strenght of 8.9 on Richter Scale. Its epicenter was located 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. It was one of the 5 strongest earthquakes since 1990 and the strongest earthquake that hit Japan. This earthquake constructed a huge Tsunami, the waves reached a hight of 20 m. . And the situation got even worse because the Tsunami crashed into the Nuclear power plant of Fukushima. One reactor exploded, this meant that 1000 of people were set free to nuclear rays. Everything was destroyed houses, hospitals, schools and everything else. The humans around these areas could not help themselfs and helpers from all over the world started to come to help. These helpers first searched for people that got lost and might have been stuck between the rubble. After a few days of searching they started to clean up and build up houses so the people would not sleep outside. Until now helpers are on their mission to build up the local towns.
 * Describe the management of the hazard event - before, during and after?
 * Planning, preparation- Japans nation live in constant precaution for the event on an earthquake, many have prepared for the worst in this unfortunate disaster. Japanese children are told what to do in an eathquake for a very young age. Due to the fact Japan accounts for 20% of the most powerfull compulsary earthquakes routine drills are cairried out each year, in the hopes to prepare the population.Children practice ducking under desks throughout their school years, while adutls are taught to ration their food and water. As well as this infrastructure has improved,in the event of an earthquakes the highrise building are designed to sway rather then shake. These routines and practices undoubtedly saved lives making Japan one of the most prepared countries in the occurence of an earthquake.
 * prediction, hazard mapping, evacuation, warnings.
 * Help with recovery, aid - local, regional and international, role of NGOs.
 * Finally - produce a one paragraph summary of the hazard event.

[|Japan's strict codes and drills are seen as lifesavers] [|Shelter Box Kits bound for Japan] [|Aid for Japan]