Hazards Associated with Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Hazards Associated with Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Lesson Objectives

• Describe the hazards associated with volcanoes and earthquakes.

• Explain the opportunities posed by volcanoes.

• Explain the causes and effects of Tsunamis

A natural event that puts people, property, and livelihood at risk.

For example: Volcanic eruptions

Natural Hazard

Reasons why people live near Volcanoes

• Some countries (such as Iceland and the Philippines), were created by volcanic activity

• Volcanic soils are rich, deep fertile, and allow intensive agriculture take place

• Volcanic areas are important for tourism

• Some volcanic areas are seen by people as being symbolic and are part of national identity (Mt. Fuji in Japan)

​Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines

Open Ended

What kinds of effects did Mt. Pinatubo have on the people?

• 7.8 Magnitude

• February 6 Turkey Earthquake

• 45,000 people died

• $34 billion economic damage

Earthquake Damage Factors

• Energy release (Richter Scale)

• Depth of focus beneath the surface (shallower earthquakes have a greater effect)

• Density of population

• Building quality

• How solid the bedrock is (weak: sand and clay; strong: adobe)

• Economic recovery (wealth of a country)

Generally caused by earthquakes (subduction zones) and have the potential to cause widespread disasters.

Tsunami

"Harbor Wave"

South Asian Tsunami (2004)

• A global disaster

• Series of tsunamis killed 180,000-280,000 people from nearly 30 countries, many of them are tourists

• Caused by the sinking of the Indian plate under the Eurasia plate resulting in an earthquake of 9.0 in the Richter Scale.

• Closes inhabited area to the epicentre

• 70% of inhabitants of some coastal areas died

Sumatra, Indonesia

• 31,000 died

• Mostly along the southern and eastern coastlines

Sri Lanka