Haiti Earthquake 2010

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Questions and Answers

Compare the population densities of Haiti and the area affected by the Japan earthquake. How might this contribute to differing challenges in disaster response?

Haiti: 359 people per km2, Japan: 136 people per km2. Higher population density in Haiti can lead to greater challenges in evacuation, resource distribution, and managing public health issues following a disaster.

Based on the provided information, what were some of the critical differences in infrastructure and building standards between Haiti and Japan that influenced the impact of their respective earthquakes?

Haiti had a high percentage of people living in slums with poorly built concrete buildings (86%), while Japan has strict building codes with reinforced steel frames, deep foundations, and shock absorbers in buildings. This difference likely contributed to greater building collapse and casualties in Haiti.

How did the presence or absence of seismological resources affect the response to the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, based on the text?

Japan had the Japanese Meteorological Agency and installed seismometers post-quake for study, whereas Haiti had no seismologists in the country at the time. This means Japan had better monitoring and early warning systems, which helped to reduce casualties. Haiti relied on information from other countries.

What does the text suggest about the importance of community memory and preparedness in responding to a natural disaster, using Haiti as an example?

The text notes that no living person in Haiti had experienced an earthquake of that magnitude before, meaning there was no community memory of how to respond. This lack of experience likely contributed to the disorganization and challenges in the immediate aftermath. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why the earthquake in Japan caused a nuclear disaster, even with the country's preparedness measures.

The flooding caused by the earthquake-induced tsunami damaged the cooling systems of two nuclear reactors, leading to meltdowns. This shows that even with good building practices, secondary effects of a disaster can cause catastrophic damage. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the tectonic plate movements associated with the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan.

Haiti's earthquake was associated with parallel movement between the North American and Caribbean plates, while Japan's was due to the subduction of the Pacific plate under the Eurasian plate. These different types of plate movement dictate the style and location of faulting and subsequent earthquakes. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways can the use of technology, as seen in Japan, aid in mitigating the impacts of earthquakes?

Smartphones in Japan were fitted with an Earthquake Early Warning System app that alerted people just minutes from the earthquake. This provided a small window of time for people to protect themselves. Signup and view all the answers

How did the difference in focus depth of the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan affect the extent of damage?

Haiti had a relatively shallow focus of 13 km, while Japan had a relatively shallow focus of 30 km. Generally speaking, shallower earthquakes tend to cause more intense shaking and damage due to proximity to the surface. Signup and view all the answers

What does the information provided suggest about the role of international aid following the earthquake in Haiti?

Lots of aid was sent, including international medical teams and Red Cross aid. However, only part of the airport was usable, limiting the effectiveness of aid. This shows the aid system worked, but damage to infrastructure hindered logistics. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of Japan observing a Disaster Prevention Day each year on September 1st.

Observing a Disaster Prevention Day each year signifies a national commitment to raising awareness and preparedness for disasters. This is important for a country like Japan that is very prone to earthquakes and other natural disasters. Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, why might the economic cost of the earthquake in Japan be significantly higher than that in Haiti, even if the magnitude was different?

Japan's cost was US$240 billion versus Haiti's US$14 billion. Japan has a much more developed economy with valuable infrastructure; therefore, when damage occurs, the cost of repair and replacement is much higher. Signup and view all the answers

Why would a cholera outbreak be a concern following the earthquake in Haiti?

Earthquakes can damage water and sanitation infrastructure, leading to contamination of water supplies. This creates conditions where diseases like cholera can easily spread, particularly in densely populated areas. Signup and view all the answers

What inferences can you draw about the recovery efforts in Japan after the earthquake, based on the information regarding building repairs?

The fact that buildings were repaired and aseismic features added suggests a focus on long-term resilience and improved safety standards in the recovery efforts. Signup and view all the answers

How did the presence of sea walls in Japan impact the effects of the tsunami?

40% of the coastline in Japan possessed sea walls of up to 10m high. This would have diminished some of the damaging impact of the tsunami compared to if they were not in place. However, these can be overtopped by larger tsunamis. Signup and view all the answers

Compare the immediate impact in number of deaths between the Japan and Haiti earthquakes. What might explain the drastic difference?

Haiti had 316,000 deaths vs. Japan had 18,000. Japan has much better building codes to resist earthquake damage, as well as tsunami early warning systems and a greater level of disaster preparedness. The earthquake in Haiti also occurred closer to the surface. Signup and view all the answers

Why is providing funding for students to study seismology beneficial for countries prone to seismic activity?

Having local experts is essential for understanding the specific seismic risks of a region, developing effective early warning systems, and informing building codes and disaster preparedness strategies. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the shallowness of the focus of the earthquake in Haiti contributed to the extent of the devastation.

A shallow focus means the earthquake's energy is released closer to the Earth's surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and more widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure. Signup and view all the answers

Based on the provided information, what are some of the long-term social and economic challenges that Haiti might face in the aftermath of the Earthquake?

Long-term challenges include rebuilding infrastructure, improving housing conditions and sanitation, addressing the health crisis from the cholera outbreak, and restoring the economy, especially in the capital city that was severely affected. Signup and view all the answers

What were some of the immediate consequences to Japan after the earthquake struck?

A tsunami was triggered 3 minutes after the quake, blocking road and rail links and damaging the ports. Also, two nuclear reactors went into meltdown because flooding damaged the cooling system. Signup and view all the answers

In Japan, it was mentioned that tyres were added to buildings for shock absorption. How would this work?

The tyres would act like springs/dampeners, absorbing shock energy that is transmitted through the earth. This also adds flexibility to the building which is important during earthquake shaking. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Japan Earthquake Focus

Relatively shallow focus, 30km deep.

Haiti Plate Action

Parallel movement between the North American and Caribbean plates.