Planning and Prediction

From looking in the textbook you may be able to tell that planning and prediction is not a topic you have to cover in the syllabus, however, it has been noticed that a number of questions have come up about planning and prediction, so this may be helpful to revise:

Planning and Prediction

·         Although earthquakes can’t be accurately predicted, scientists have identified a number of events that occur before hand:

-          Curious animal behaviour

-          Microquakes

-          Earth bulges

-          More Argon in the soil

-          High risk assessment

-          Contingency planning

-          Earthquake engineering

-          GIS used to plan hazard map zones

·         Building regulations - Earthquake proof:

-          Shock absorbers between foundations

-          Birdcage interlocking steel frame

-          Reinforced lattice worked into the foundations

·         Contingency plan:

-          Done by - Organisations, individuals, local authorities, governments, G8, UN  International aid, NGO’s 

-          Planning – emergency shelters, food, earthquake proof buildings, risk assessment.

·         Public education:

-          Evacuation, safe places to hide, school drills

·         Government:

-          Protect 100-300km from epicentre by:

Ø  Look at types or rock & soil (liquefaction ect)

Ø  Infrastructure & contingency for infrastructure

Ø  Secondary impacts e.g. landslides or tsunamis

Ø  Deaths and medical services reinforced

Ø  Seismic info. Is relayed to emergency services

Natural Hazards

What are natural hazards?

·         Natural hazards include: earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, drought, storms, infestations, diseases.

·         Difference between an event and hazards = hazards effect lives whereas events don’t.

Natural hazards have the potential to affect people and environment.

Event only becomes a hazard when it affects people and property.

The impact of a hazard may be felt over a long distance and long term à may be costly and dangerous.

·         Chris Park’s Model below shows the responses to a hazard event.

The next topic we shall be 'blogging' about will be to cover the case studies for natural hazards, we will also be giving some questions to think about and answer as well as glossary tests! Happy geography days! (: A+A