Tectonic hazard human impacts

• Risk equation to depict level of impacts

Vulnerability x magnitude Risk = ---------------------------------

Capacity to cope C

Why do people live in tectonically active areas?

• Poverty – people too poor to move elsewhere and forced to build on marginal land

• Friends and family have lived in area for generations and don’t want to leave or simply cant afford to

• Ignorance – some people have no idea they’re living in a hazardous area

• Employment – some hazardous areas offer good employment opportunities

• Fertile soil - minerals in volcanic soils ideal for agriculture and farming

• Geothermal energy – Heat from underground steam can be used to drive turbines and produce electricity

Holmes et al 2008

• Tourism – Volcanoes often become popular tourist attractions

• Minerals – soils around volcanoes high in minerals like sulphur, which can be collected and sold by the locals

VolcanoesHuman:• Loss of life• Homes destroyed by lava and volcanic bombs

Economic:• Businesses also destroyed by lava and volcanic bombs• damage to roads and will also damage businesses as their network is damaged.•Ash clouds can disrupt flights

Human:• loss of life • aftershocks can cause further and sometimes even

greater.• Can trigger landslides• Damage to gas and electricity systems can cause fires

Economic:• Businesses less likely to set up in the area and will be

unable to operate

Earthquakes

MEDC’sMore likely to withstand earthquakes- eg. Japan- In Kobe 1995, 7.2 on the Richter scale-Only 5000 people were killed -More prepared- Students practice earthquake drill every year-Emergency services well trained

LEDC’s

• Buildings often poorly designed because of cost.

• Earthquakes usually cause more damage than in MEDC’s

• Eg. Turkey 1999, 6.8 on the Richter scale, 17000 people killed

• Tend to lack disaster response plans

Montserrat 1995-97

• Advanced warnings by the Montserrat government for 2 years- ‘exclusion zone’

• Saved many lives• Only 19 deaths- all in the exclusion zone• Population fell from 12000 to 4000 due to

evacuation/ emigration to the North• In 2005 visitors began to return-

The Asian Tsunami 2004

• Lack of warning• 180000 deaths• Earthquake 9.4 on the Richter scale • 500, 000 people displaced• 20 ports damaged• $4.5 billion worth of damage in Indonesia

Varying patterns over timeOver the last 50 years...• Number of tectonic disasters and people affected reported gradually increases• Economic losses soar 25 years ago• People reported killed declines

Trends in frequency

CRED 2008

Trends in impactLong and short term impacts• 3 classifications of death occur– Primary casualties – direct deaths– Secondary casualties – deaths from lack of

capacity to cope– Tertiary casualties – deaths from pre-existing

disease and medical conditions, due to lack of infrastructure.

• Direct and Indirect economic impacts• In developed countries high economic impact and in developing high loss of life

Park’s modelQ

ualit

y of

life

Leve

l of e

cono

mic

acti

vity

Soci

al st

abili

ty

Source: Nick Park