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Geography - The Restless Earth - Earthquake in a MEDC - Japan CASE STUDY

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Japan Earthquake MEDC CASE STUDY

Background · The earthquake happened on Friday 11th March 2011 and lasted for 5 minutes · An Earthquake warning was sent out about 1 minute before the earthquake hit. · The earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale. · The epicentre was 81 miles away from Sendai in the Pacific Ocean. · The earthquake also caused a tsunami to hit the north-eastern coast of the country.

Causes · Japan suffers many earthquakes every year · The country lies on a Destructive Plate Margin where the Oceanic Pacific Plate meets the Continental Eurasian Plate · The Pacific Plate was forced down/sub-ducted under the Eurasian Plate · Pressure built up between the plates · Eventually this pressure is released and it caused a rapid shift in the plates and a lot of energy to be released. This was the earthquake.

Primary Effects · Most modern building withstood the violent shaking; this was due to the strict building regulations the country has and that they have many facilities to monitor the movement of the ground. Only traditional wooden building suffered major damage. · Most industrial buildings suffered only minor damage from the quake itself. · In some areas subsidence meant that land sunk by 75cm . This lead too many areas being a flood risk. · Many sections of the new Tohoku Expressway were damaged. It did not open again until March 2011. · Power outages hit Tokyo and 8 other areas which affected around 4 million homes. · Panic and chaos was caused by the quake · Fewer than 20 people were killed by the earthquake · Liquefaction turned large areas too mud · There was some ground rupture. · Damage was caused in Tokyo and many injuries in the north where the quake was centred · The yen fell sharply but recouped most of its decline several hours later. Tokyo stocks fell. · Local television showed smoke rising from a Tokyo port building, fire in the capital’s waterfront Odaiba district and an oil refinery ablaze in Ichihara, near Tokyo

Secondary Effects · The Earthquake caused a large tsunami to also hit Japan. o This caused 16,000 deaths and 26,000 people were injured. · 45,700 building were destroyed and 144,300 were damaged by the quake and the tsunami o 1.4million homes were also left without power or water o 582 roads were cut off o 32 bridges were destroyed · Millions of worker also became trapped in Tokyo as the train and underground network was closed · The cost of recovery for the quake and following tsunami was around $235 billion

Short Term Responses · 3 minutes after the quake a tsunami warning was issued · People were urged not to go back to their homes due to the possibility of a tsunami · 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 the 530,000 displaced people to sleep in · Electricity supplies were fixed · The Defence Ministry sent in eight fighter jets to check the damage. · 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 · 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)

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Friday 15 march 2013, case study: earthquakes in medc vs ledc, 2 comments:.

Thanks for this it really helped with my geography essay on this subject! Well displayed also! Thanks

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Case Study – The 2011 Japan Earthquake

Cambridge iGCSE Geography > The Natural Environment > Earthquakes and Volcanoes > Case Study – The 2011 Japan Earthquake

Background Information

Location : The earthquake struck 250 miles off the northeastern coast of Japan’s Honshu Island at 2:46 pm (local time) on March 11, 2011.

Japan 2011 Earthquake map

Magnitude : It measured 9.1 on the Moment Magnitude scale, making it one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded.

Japan is a highly developed country with advanced infrastructure, technology, and a robust economy. The nation has a high GDP, an efficient healthcare system, and extensive education. However, it’s also located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes.

What caused the 2011 Japan earthquake?

Japan is located on the eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate. The Eurasian plate, which is continental, is subducted by the Pacific Plate, an oceanic plate forming a subduction zone to the east of Japan. This type of plate margin is known as a destructive plate margin . The process of subduction is not smooth. Friction causes the Pacific Plate to stick. Pressure builds and is released as an earthquake.

Friction has built up over time, and when released, this caused a massive ‘megathrust’ earthquake. The enormous tension released as the plates shifted caused the seafloor to uplift, triggering the earthquake and subsequent tsunami .

The amount of energy released in this single earthquake was 600 million times the energy of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.

Scientists drilled into the subduction zone soon after the earthquake and discovered a thin, slippery clay layer lining the fault. The researchers think this clay layer allowed the two plates to slide an incredible distance, some 164 feet (50 metres), facilitating the enormous earthquake and tsunami.

The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 20 miles below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. This, combined with the high magnitude, caused a tsunami (find out more about  how a tsunami is formed  on the BBC website).

What were the primary effects of the 2011 Japan earthquake?

• Ground Shaking : Extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
• Landfall: Some coastal areas experienced land subsidence as the earthquake dropped the beachfront in some places by more than 50 cm.

What were the secondary effects of the 2011 Japan earthquake?

• Tsunami : A giant tsunami wave resulted in widespread destruction along the coast.
• Fatalities : Around 16,000 deaths were reported, mainly resulting from the tsunami.
• Injuries : 26,152 were injured, mainly as a result of the tsunami.
• Nuclear Crisis : The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged, leading to radiation leaks.
• Economic Loss : Estimated at over $235 billion.
• Displacement : Around 340,000 people were displaced from their homes.
• Damage: The tsunami destroyed or damaged 332,395 buildings, 2,126 roads, 56 bridges, and 26 railways. Three hundred hospitals were damaged, and 11 were destroyed.
• Environmental Damage : Coastal ecosystems were heavily impacted.
• Blackouts: Over 4.4 million households were left without electricity in North-East Japan.
• Transport: Rural areas remained isolated for a long time because the tsunami destroyed major roads and local trains and buses. Sections of the Tohoku Expressway were damaged. Railway lines were damaged, and some trains were derailed.

What were the immediate responses to the 2011 Japan earthquake?

Tsunami Warnings and Prediction :

• The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings three minutes after the earthquake.
• Scientists predicted where the tsunami would hit using modelling and forecasting technology.

Search and Rescue Operations:

• Rescue workers and 100,000 members of the Japan Self-Defence Force were dispatched within hours.
• Some individuals were rescued from beneath rubble with the aid of sniffer dogs.

Radiation Protection Measures:

• The government declared a 20 km evacuation zone around the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
• Evacuees from the area around the nuclear power plant were given iodine tablets to reduce radiation poisoning risk.

International Assistance:

• Japan received help from the US military.
• Search and rescue teams from New Zealand, India, South Korea, China, and Australia were sent.

Access and Evacuation :

• Access was restricted to affected areas due to debris and mud, complicating immediate support.
• Hundreds of thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters or relocated.

Health Monitoring :

• Those near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown had radiation levels checked and their health monitored.
• Measures were taken to ensure individuals did not receive dangerous exposure to radiation.

What were the long-term responses to the 2011 Japan earthquake?

Reconstruction Policy and Budget:

• Establishment of the Reconstruction Policy Council in April 2011.
• Approval of a budget of 23 trillion yen (£190 billion) for recovery over ten years.
• Creation of ‘Special Zones for Reconstruction’ to attract investment in the Tohoku region.

Coastal Protection Measures:

• Implementing coastal protection policies like seawalls and breakwaters designed for a 150-year recurrence interval of tsunamis.

Legislation for Tsunami-Resilient Communities:

• Enactment of the ‘Act on the Development of Tsunami-resilient Communities’ in December 2011.
• Emphasis on human life, combining infrastructure development with measures for the largest class tsunami.

Economic Challenges and Recovery:

• Japan’s economy wiped 5–10% off the value of stock markets post-earthquake.
• Long-term response priority: rebuild infrastructure, restore and improve the economy’s health.

Transportation and Infrastructure Repair:

• Repair and reopening of 375 km of the Tohoku Expressway by the 24th of March 2011.
• Restoration of the runway at Sendai Airport by the 29th of March, a joint effort by the Japanese Defence Force and the US Army.

Utility Reconstruction:

• Energy, water supply, and telecommunications infrastructure reconstruction.
• As of November 2011: 96% of electricity, 98% of water, and 99% of the landline network had been restored.

How does Japan prepare for earthquakes, and what was its impact?

Japan has a comprehensive earthquake preparedness program, including:

• Strict Building Codes : Buildings are constructed to withstand seismic activity.
• Early Warning Systems : Advanced technology provides early warnings to citizens.
• Education and Drills : Regular earthquake drills in schools, offices, and public places.

Impact of the 2011 Earthquake

The extensive preparation in Japan likely saved lives and reduced damage during the 2011 earthquake. However, the unprecedented magnitude of the event still led to significant destruction, particularly with the tsunami and nuclear crisis.

The 2011 Japan earthquake illustrates the complexity of managing natural disasters in even the most developed and prepared nations. The event prompted further refinements in disaster preparedness and response in Japan and globally, highlighting the need for continuous assessment and adaptation to seismic risks.

The 2011 earthquake occurred off Japan’s Honshu Island, measuring 9.1 on the Moment Magnitude scale, one of the strongest ever recorded.

Triggered by a ‘megathrust’ in a destructive plate margin, the Pacific Plate subducted the Eurasian Plate, releasing energy equivalent to 600 million Hiroshima bombs.

Primary effects included extensive ground shaking and significant land subsidence in coastal areas.

Secondary effects included a massive tsunami, around 16,000 deaths, 26,152 injuries, a nuclear crisis at Fukushima, over $235 billion in economic loss, displacement of 340,000 people, and widespread damage to infrastructure and the environment.

Immediate responses included rapid tsunami warnings, extensive search and rescue operations, radiation protection measures, international assistance, and evacuation strategies.

Long-term responses focused on reconstruction policies, coastal protection, tsunami-resilient community development, economic recovery, and transportation and utility restoration.

Japan’s extensive earthquake preparedness, including strict building codes and early warning systems, likely reduced damage, but the magnitude still caused significant destruction.

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