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Preparing for Earthquakes (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Revision Note

Bridgette Barrett

Written by: Bridgette Barrett

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Warning & Evacuation

  • Accurate prediction of earthquakes is not currently possible but monitoring is

  • Many different methods of monitoring are being used to help research possible prediction methods:

    • Tiltmeters - which monitors ground changes

    • Clusters of small earthquakes

    • Changes in radon gas emissions

    • Changes in animal behaviour

    • Remote sensing of ground movement using satellites

Building Design & Preparation

  • Countries can prepare for earthquakes in a number of ways:

    • Building design and earthquake resistant structures

    • Land use planning

    • Earthquake drills 

    • Emergency planning

Building Design

  • In developed countries building design and engineering are commonly used to reduce the impact of earthquakes

  • Building regulations and codes require new buildings to include earthquake-resistant features:

    • Shutters on windows prevent falling glass

    • Cross-bracing of steel frames

    • Foundations sunk deep into the bedrock

    • Frames which sway with the earthquake tremors

    • Rubber shock absorbers to reduce tremors moving through the building

Land Use Planning

  • Mapping of areas most at risk from earthquakes

  • Planning can ensure that valuable services such as the fire service and hospitals are not built in high-risk areas

  • Densely populated housing can be located away from high-risk areas

Drills and Education

  • In many countries, earthquake drills are regularly carried out

  • The drills help people to prepare for what to do in an earthquake to protect themselves

  • Education about how to prepare homes means that people are less likely to be injured by falling objects and furniture

Remote Sensing & GIS

Remote Sensing and GIS

  • Remote sensing of the Earth's surface by satellites such as Sentinel 1 provides data about changes in ground movement

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides layers of data such as:

    • vulnerable areas

    • land use

    • infrastructure such as roads

  • GIS data is then used to assist with land use planning

Worked Example

Study Figure 1b which shows an earthquake resistant building

building-design

Identify the element of building design in box X which makes it earthquake resistant

(1 Mark)

  • Answer

    • The feature identified in the image is the cross bracing which makes the building less likely to collapse. Any of the following answers would be accepted

      • Cross bracing (1)

      • Reinforced concrete (1)

      • Concrete exoskeleton (1)

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember with earthquakes preparation is essential because at the moment they are impossible to predict.

Case Studies: Nepal & Japan

Nepal - A Developing Country 

  • Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world

  • GDP per capita in 2015 was US$3,332

  • The country is politically unstable with a civil war between 1996 and 2006

  • Earthquake experts view Kathmandu as one of the most dangerous places in the world in terms of earthquake risk

Preparations Before the Earthquake

Issues with the Preparations

  • In 1997 the Nepali government created the Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project (KVERMP) this included;

    • The School Earthquake Safety Programme (SESP) provided funding to schools for earthquake drills

    • Training to make buildings more resistant to earthquakes

    • Earthquake Safety Day

  • This was mainly in urban areas so people in rural areas did not have drills or knowledge about what to do when the earthquake struck

  • There are 121 recognised languages as well as Nepali (the official language) which are spoken in Nepal this makes communication of earthquake advice and education difficult

  • Allocation of 83 open spaces around Kathmandu to be used as camps for displaced populations where they would be supplied with shelter, food and medical services

  • There were not enough supplies to begin with

  • Improved the 1994 National Building Code and trained building inspectors

  • The building code was often ignored and so many buildings were still not earthquake-resistant

  • In 2009, the government set up a National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management

  • In 2010 a National Emergency Operations Centre was set up to coordinate the humanitarian response and restoration of the infrastructure

  • Due to political instability, these were not as effective as they should have been

  • Nepal Red Cross Society maintained 12 warehouses with stocks of emergency supplies

  • These were not enough for the scale of the disaster

Japan - A Developed Country

  • Japan is one of the wealthiest countries in the world

  • GDP per capita in 2011 was US$48,168

  • Japan is one of the most seismically active places in the world with 20% of earthquakes over magnitude 6.0 happening there

Preparations Before the 2011 Earthquake

Issues with the Preparations

  • Earthquake drills are practiced regularly so that people know exactly what to do during an earthquake event and immediately afterwards

  • People did know exactly what to do in the earthquake but were not as prepared for the tsunami

  • Households are encouraged to have an emergency survival bag packed and ready at all times

  • Many people do not have an emergency survival bag

  • Many buildings are designed to be earthquake-resistant

  • Building codes were further tightened after the Kobe earthquake in 1995 

  • Over 80% of buildings in Tokyo are earthquake-resistant

  • Many buildings survived the earthquake but not the tsunami

  • Sea walls between 3-10m built in some coastal areas

  • Breakwaters off the coast at Kamaishi and Ofunato Bay

  • The tsunami overtopped the sea walls

  • Trains automatically stop when an earthquake is detected, to avoid derailments

  • Nuclear power stations automatically shut down

  • There was an issue restoring the cooling system at the Fukushima nuclear power plant leading to radioactive contamination in the surrounding area

  • There is a tsunami warning service with 180 seismic stations and 80 water-based sensors

  • Warnings are issued via

    • phone 

    • television

    • sirens

    • loudspeakers

  • The warning system costs about US$20 million a year 

  • People ignored the tsunami warning as they thought they would be protected by the sea walls

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    Author
    Reviewer
    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.