Overview of the March 11, 2011 Disaster in Tohoku Japan Adapted from the lecture, “Japan’s Geological Factors” by Professor Emeritus Daniel I. Okimoto Stanford University

Japan’s Regions

March 11, 2011 Disaster 9.0 Earthquake An aerial view of damage in the Tohoku region with black smoke coming from the Nippon Oil Sendai oil refinery. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SH-60B_helicopter_flies_over_Sendai.jpg

Tsunami **

**

Destruction Photo courtesy of Rich Lee, 2011.

** Dead or missing: 18,500–20,000 Photo courtesy of Rich Lee, 2011.

7.9 Great Kanto Earthquake 1923 Over 100,000 dead! Adapted from Susan M. Pojer, Horace Greeley High School, Chappaqua, New York, The Geography of Japan

Earthquake Comparison 1923 The Great Kanto Earthquake 2011 The Great Tohoku Earthquake A magnitude of 7.9 (on the Richter scale) Dead or Missing: 105,385 Tsunami: max. 10m Fire due to strong winds were the main cause of death. Buildings not earthquake resistant A magnitude of 9 (on the Richter scale). Dead or Missing: 20,000 Tsunami: max. 40.5m Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown & explosion Radiation, power outages At least 30 years to safely close down, and the process would cost $19 billion. Source: Wikipedia and USA today “ Experts: 30 years till Japan can close nuke plant,” Oct. 31, 2011

On the “Ring of Fire” Adapted from Susan M. Pojer, Horace Greeley High School, Chappaqua, New York, The Geography of Japan

Tectonic Plates

Nuclear Meltdown ** Source: Majiroxnews, 3/15/2011 & 9/3/2011

Radiation Source: Majiroxnew 6/26/2011

Cooperation and Reconstruction Source: