IGCSEGeographyEdexcelRevision Notes3. Hazardous Environments3.3 Earthquake Management3.3.1 Preparing for Earthquakes

Preparing for Earthquakes (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Revision Note

Bridgette

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Geography Lead

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)

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)

Exam Tip

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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Bridgette

Author: Bridgette

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.

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