geography work
not of any interest to any1 just geography work
Earthquakes represent an example of a natural hazard which cannot be easily predicted. Management of this hazard should centre upon vulnerability modification. Discuss with reference to examples you have studied.
1. Education plays a key role in raising people’s awareness of causes, effects and procedures of coping with an earthquake. The ability to read can greatly increase someone’s knowledge, as they are capable of comprehending Government leaflets, and therefore enhance their chances of survival. Within Japan, earthquake education is taught from an early age. This therefore impregnates their knowledge of the code of conduct when enduring an earthquake.
2. Planning and zoning is important. In land use zoning people and buildings are allowed in certain areas but restricted in others. For example in California there is a ban on new buildings being built, they must be at least 40km away from the fault line. Other infrastructural developments such as roads or aqueducts have flexible joints so they can shake with the earthquake.
Also some areas are more at risk to Earthquake damage than others. In particular areas of sand and silt can be prone to liquefaction. These areas should be well avoided. Other potential hazards include steep slopes which may lead to landslides triggered by the earthquake. Coastal areas are also more at risk due to the chances of tsunamis.
Yet no building or area is completely earthquake proof but with better earthquake zoning engineering risk can be reduced.
3. The Japanese have learned from previous experiences that disasters could be limited by people owning a survival kit. The survival kit bag was designed to help struggling people during an earthquake and provide them with food until emergency services arrive. Furthermore, the aim is to have the kit bag in your house in a suitable place to locate when an earthquake strikes. To reduce vulnerability, the survival kit bag should include a hand-powered radio to help people contact others and tell them their location. If you are without water, the kit bag prolongs your chances of survival by providing you with pre cooked dried rice and freeze-dried vegetables. If a person is stuck in total darkness, then 100-hour candles, as well as the hand generated flashlight to help them see in the darkness.
4. Technology is used in may different ways for example a seismograph which can measure the activity within the earth. If there is a dramatic change in movement within the earth then they can sometimes tell if an earthquake is going to happen, and an earlier warning can be given out. There is also the new technology of stopping the bullet train in Japan. The system attached to it can detect P-Waves and if these are big enough to cause an earthquake it automatically stops the train, so that there is no risk of fires from crashing trains and passengers are less likely to get hurt.
5. Following the Kobe earthquake in Japan, insurance companies were depended on to repair the damage. This unfortunately was only true for 7% of Kobe residents, as many were without earthquake insurance. As the area doesn’t normally experience hazards, consequently the majority are without sufficient cover. Insurance companies are becoming increasingly concerned with hazards, as more people are now living in hazardous areas.
6. Building structure is important as it determines whether a building collapses or it is just badly damaged. New buildings in earthquake prone areas are built with flexible structures and moving weights on the roofs to counteract the shockwaves from an earthquake. Most old buildings collapsed in the Kobe Earthquake ‘house No. 15’ located in Choo Ward in Kobe was the oldest western style wooden building in Kobe’s former foreign settlement. It was completely flattened. Buildings often have rubber pads under the foundations, as a shock absorbing construction method.
7. In an attempt to reduce the vulnerability of people during earthquakes and their aftershocks, Governments have introduced Earthquake drills. The Japanese have implemented the idea, as some parts of the country are susceptible to earthquakes such as Kobe. Every year on the 1st September there is a Disaster Prevention Day, where everyone pretends there is a real earthquake. During the drill they have to evacuate the building, after taking their survival kits and putting on their protective hats. If unable to evacuate the building they’re told to dive under protective surfaces, such as tables. Some elementary schools in Tokyo organise drills every month. Vehicles that stimulate earthquakes visit the school each year to give them feel of an earthquake situation. A loud speaker alerts the pupils, who grab their protective hoods and evacuate the building, everyone is to line up in an open space. These earthquake drills help educate and prepare people in case there is an earthquake and makes the whole population less vulnerable.
8. Evacuation procedures are vital in stopping people running around in a headless panic if disaster occurs. All over the world practise evacuations take place for emergencies, fires, floods, hurricane and especially earthquakes as they are so unpredictable. For example in Japan, Government offices, schools and many companies observe Disaster Prevention day on 1st September each year. Throughout the Country, local communities hold drills and elementary schools organise earthquake and fire drills 4 times a year and the children are taught how to act during an earthquake. The reduction in vulnerability is obvious, when people are confident what to do in an emergency they feel more prepared if and when the time comes.
9. Technology has advanced over the past decade, increasing the warning people receive. Earthquakes can now be accurately predicted a few hours before the tremors begin. In California a new seismic computer called ‘Earthworm’ monitors ground movements which can recognise earthquake activity. A pager system has been developed to link with the earthworm system. This enables emergency services to be mobilised before the earthquake has happened. In the future a new computer system called ‘redicube’ will sue seismometers around California to direct emergency services to areas of need saving lives and property by cutting off Gas supplies.
Earthquakes represent an example of a natural hazard which cannot be easily predicted. Management of this hazard should centre upon vulnerability modification. Discuss with reference to examples you have studied.
1. Education plays a key role in raising people’s awareness of causes, effects and procedures of coping with an earthquake. The ability to read can greatly increase someone’s knowledge, as they are capable of comprehending Government leaflets, and therefore enhance their chances of survival. Within Japan, earthquake education is taught from an early age. This therefore impregnates their knowledge of the code of conduct when enduring an earthquake.
2. Planning and zoning is important. In land use zoning people and buildings are allowed in certain areas but restricted in others. For example in California there is a ban on new buildings being built, they must be at least 40km away from the fault line. Other infrastructural developments such as roads or aqueducts have flexible joints so they can shake with the earthquake.
Also some areas are more at risk to Earthquake damage than others. In particular areas of sand and silt can be prone to liquefaction. These areas should be well avoided. Other potential hazards include steep slopes which may lead to landslides triggered by the earthquake. Coastal areas are also more at risk due to the chances of tsunamis.
Yet no building or area is completely earthquake proof but with better earthquake zoning engineering risk can be reduced.
3. The Japanese have learned from previous experiences that disasters could be limited by people owning a survival kit. The survival kit bag was designed to help struggling people during an earthquake and provide them with food until emergency services arrive. Furthermore, the aim is to have the kit bag in your house in a suitable place to locate when an earthquake strikes. To reduce vulnerability, the survival kit bag should include a hand-powered radio to help people contact others and tell them their location. If you are without water, the kit bag prolongs your chances of survival by providing you with pre cooked dried rice and freeze-dried vegetables. If a person is stuck in total darkness, then 100-hour candles, as well as the hand generated flashlight to help them see in the darkness.
4. Technology is used in may different ways for example a seismograph which can measure the activity within the earth. If there is a dramatic change in movement within the earth then they can sometimes tell if an earthquake is going to happen, and an earlier warning can be given out. There is also the new technology of stopping the bullet train in Japan. The system attached to it can detect P-Waves and if these are big enough to cause an earthquake it automatically stops the train, so that there is no risk of fires from crashing trains and passengers are less likely to get hurt.
5. Following the Kobe earthquake in Japan, insurance companies were depended on to repair the damage. This unfortunately was only true for 7% of Kobe residents, as many were without earthquake insurance. As the area doesn’t normally experience hazards, consequently the majority are without sufficient cover. Insurance companies are becoming increasingly concerned with hazards, as more people are now living in hazardous areas.
6. Building structure is important as it determines whether a building collapses or it is just badly damaged. New buildings in earthquake prone areas are built with flexible structures and moving weights on the roofs to counteract the shockwaves from an earthquake. Most old buildings collapsed in the Kobe Earthquake ‘house No. 15’ located in Choo Ward in Kobe was the oldest western style wooden building in Kobe’s former foreign settlement. It was completely flattened. Buildings often have rubber pads under the foundations, as a shock absorbing construction method.
7. In an attempt to reduce the vulnerability of people during earthquakes and their aftershocks, Governments have introduced Earthquake drills. The Japanese have implemented the idea, as some parts of the country are susceptible to earthquakes such as Kobe. Every year on the 1st September there is a Disaster Prevention Day, where everyone pretends there is a real earthquake. During the drill they have to evacuate the building, after taking their survival kits and putting on their protective hats. If unable to evacuate the building they’re told to dive under protective surfaces, such as tables. Some elementary schools in Tokyo organise drills every month. Vehicles that stimulate earthquakes visit the school each year to give them feel of an earthquake situation. A loud speaker alerts the pupils, who grab their protective hoods and evacuate the building, everyone is to line up in an open space. These earthquake drills help educate and prepare people in case there is an earthquake and makes the whole population less vulnerable.
8. Evacuation procedures are vital in stopping people running around in a headless panic if disaster occurs. All over the world practise evacuations take place for emergencies, fires, floods, hurricane and especially earthquakes as they are so unpredictable. For example in Japan, Government offices, schools and many companies observe Disaster Prevention day on 1st September each year. Throughout the Country, local communities hold drills and elementary schools organise earthquake and fire drills 4 times a year and the children are taught how to act during an earthquake. The reduction in vulnerability is obvious, when people are confident what to do in an emergency they feel more prepared if and when the time comes.
9. Technology has advanced over the past decade, increasing the warning people receive. Earthquakes can now be accurately predicted a few hours before the tremors begin. In California a new seismic computer called ‘Earthworm’ monitors ground movements which can recognise earthquake activity. A pager system has been developed to link with the earthworm system. This enables emergency services to be mobilised before the earthquake has happened. In the future a new computer system called ‘redicube’ will sue seismometers around California to direct emergency services to areas of need saving lives and property by cutting off Gas supplies.