Responses to Tectonic Hazards (AQA GCSE Geography)

Revision Note

Bridgette Barrett

Written by: Bridgette Barrett

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Responses to Tectonic Hazards

  • Tectonic hazards have both primary and secondary effects

The Primary and Secondary Effects of Tectonic Hazards

Tectonic Hazard

Primary Effects

Secondary Effects

Earthquake

  • Buildings and homes destroyed/damaged

  • People injured/killed

  • Transport routes destroyed/damaged

  • Water/gas/electricity supplies cut

  • Economy slows as businesses take time to re-establish and money is spent on rebuilding

  • Aid struggles to reach those in need due to damaged/destroyed transport routes

  • Fires start due to broken gas and electricity supplies

  • Lack of clean water leads to disease

  • Damaged/destroyed homes lead to homelessness

  • Food prices increase

Volcanic eruption

  • Buildings, homes and farmland destroyed/damaged

  • People injured/killed

  • Transport routes destroyed/damaged

  • Aircraft grounded due to ash in the atmosphere

  • Contaminated water supply

  • Ash fall buries houses/crops

  • Economy slows as businesses take time to re-establish and money is spent on rebuilding

  • Aid struggles to reach those in need due to damaged/destroyed transport routes

  • Lack of clean water leads to disease

  • Damaged/destroyed homes lead to homelessness

  • Flooding caused by ice/snow melting on the volcano slopes may also cause lahars

  • Food prices increase

Examiner Tip

It is easy to confuse the primary and secondary effects/impacts for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Remember:

  • Primary effects are those which occur as a direct result of the earthquake or volcanic eruption. For example, buildings collapsing is a direct result of the earthquake ground shaking.

  • Secondary effects are those things which result from the primary hazards. For example, fires caused by gas mains which have fractured.

Immediate & Long Term Responses

  • The responses to any tectonic hazard can be divided into two groups

    • Immediate in the days and weeks after the event

    • Long term in the months and years after the event

The Immediate and Long-term Responses to Tectonic Hazards

Immediate

Long Term

Rescue teams search for survivors

Rebuild homes and other buildings

Medical assistance for those injured

Improve building regulations

Shelter provided for homeless

Improve drills, evacuation plans and warning systems

Food and water provided

Repair water, gas and electricity supplies

Recovery and burial of bodies

Money given to farms for seed and new livestock

Warnings issued if possible

Data from eruptions used to improve future predictions

Evacuation 

Government planning improved

Clearing ash and debris

Transport routes rebuilt

Example Case Study: Nepal

  • Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of under $1000 in 2015

  • Located between China and India, Nepal is a landlocked country

  • In 2015 80% of the population lived in rural, often remote, communities

  • In April 2015 at 11.26 am Nepal was struck by an earthquake, magnitude 7.8

  • The epicentre was 80 km northwest of Kathmandu in the Gorka district

  • The focus was shallow at only 15 km beneath the surface

  • Over 300 aftershocks followed the main earthquake

Map of the 2015 Nepal earthquake showing perceived shaking levels from severe to moderate, the epicenter, major aftershock, the fault line, and tectonic plates.
Location of the Nepal earthquake

Cause 

  • Nepal is located on a collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates

Effects

  • Approximately 9000 deaths 

  • Over 20,000 people injured

  • Electricity and water supplies cut

  • 7000 schools and 1000 health facilities were damaged or destroyed

  • Almost 3.5 million people were made homeless

  • Offices, shops and factories were destroyed meaning people were unable to make a living

  • UNESCO world heritage sites destroyed as well as many temples

  • Loss of tourist income which Nepal is reliant on

  • Avalanches on Mount Everest and in the Langtang Valley

  • Landslides which blocked roads and rivers

  • Damages estimated at between $7 and $10 billion about 35% of the GDP

Immediate responses

  • Donations of money and aid from around the world totally $3 billion including $3.3 million from China and $51 million from the UK 

  • Many countries sent aid in the form of:

    • Temporary shelters

    • Medicines

    • Food

    • Water

    • Clothing

    • Search and rescue teams

    • Medical staff

  • 90% of the Nepalese army were mobilised 

  • Tent cities were set up in Kathmandu for those made homeless

  • GIS crisis mapping tool was used to co-ordinate the response

  • $3 million grant was provided by the Asian Development Bank for emergency relief

Long term response

  • Landslides were cleared and roads repaired to restore access to remote rural communities

  • Schools were rebuilt

  • Earthquake drills were introduced to provide people with education about what to do in the event of an earthquake

  • Stricter building codes with more enforcement

  • $200 million was provided by the Asian Development Bank for rebuilding

  • A new government task force was set up to plan for future earthquake events 

Example Case Study: Italy

Background

  • Italy is a High-Income Country (HIC) with a GDP per capita of over $31,000

  • It is located in Europe 

  • On 24 August 2016 central Italy was struck by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake

  • The epicentre was 100 miles to the north-east of Rome

  • The focus was shallow at only 4.4km

  • Over 200 aftershocks followed the main earthquake over the next couple of days

A map showing earthquake impact, with moderate to severe areas around Norcia, Accumoli, Amatrice, and Pescara del Tronto in Italy; inset shows the map location in Europe.
Strength of the Italian earthquake tremors

Cause 

  • Italy is located along the plate boundary where the Africa plate meets the Eurasian plate

  • The two fault lines running through Italy are the North-South Fault and the East-West Fault

Effects

  • Severe damage to buildings

    • 80% of buildings in Amatrice old town were affected

    • Over 50% of all buildings in Amatrice were damaged and destroyed

    • The school in Amatrice collapsed

  • 296 people died

  • Landslides blocked the roads 

  • Psychological effects on the population

  • Tourism was negatively affected

  • Farmers were affected as 90% of barns and stalls for livestock in the immediate area were destroyed

  • Amatrice hospital was badly damaged

Immediate responses

  • Rescue workers sent to the worst hit areas with hours. They included;

    • Soldiers

    • Red Cross 

    • Firefighters

    • Rescue dogs (70 dog teams)

    • Helicopters

  • Patients from Amatrice transferred to nearby hospital in Rieti

    • Temporary hospital set up in Amatrice to treat the injured

  • Temporary shelters (tents) were supplied for 10,000 people made homeless

  • Shelters at sports halls and other community buildings were provided

  • Immediate inspection of communications - telephone and internet

    • Emergency lines set up as extra support

    • Local residents were asked to remove their wi-fi passwords to improve rescue team communication

  • Mobile kitchens serving 1,000 meals a day 

  • Additional blood donation sessions set up to supply additional blood for those people injured

Long term responses

  • The Italian government promised relocate those made homeless into temporary accommodation within 6 months

  • €42 million initiative called 'Home Italy' which would rebuild homes in the same style as they had been before the earthquake

  • Fundraising by the community and Italian Red Cross 

  • Children attended classes in towns near to Amatrice to ensure they didn't miss education

  • A temporary school was built in Amatrice

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Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

Jenna Quinn

Author: Jenna Quinn

Expertise: Head of New Subjects

Jenna studied at Cardiff University before training to become a science teacher at the University of Bath specialising in Biology (although she loves teaching all three sciences at GCSE level!). Teaching is her passion, and with 10 years experience teaching across a wide range of specifications – from GCSE and A Level Biology in the UK to IGCSE and IB Biology internationally – she knows what is required to pass those Biology exams.