Living on the Ring of Fire http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire.png

The “Ring of Fire” is caused by movement along the edges of tectonic plates. Three different plates meet in Japan.

 One major type of disaster Japan is earthquakes.

Japanese architects have worked hard to design earthquake-resistant buildings. But earthquakes will always be destructive, even when they don’t cause death.

Schools in Japan have regular earthquake drills.

Since earthquakes cannot yet be predicted, they can only prepare and hope to save lives and property.

Japan also has 186 volcanoes, and a third of them are active volcanoes.

Mt. Fuji, a beautiful mountain right outside of Tokyo, is a volcano Mt. Fuji, a beautiful mountain right outside of Tokyo, is a volcano. It is a threat to the people of Tokyo.

Kagoshima is built right by an active volcano.

Children are required to wear helmets to and from school.

And, of course, some kids don’t exactly follow the rules. 500 eruptions in 2013!

Sometimes you need more than just a helmet Sometimes you need more than just a helmet. Therefore, there are “volcano shelters” around Kagoshima.

Volcanic eruptions can be predicted and people can be evacuated, but the damage to homes, businesses, and entire cities cannot be stopped.

 Tsunamis have hit Japan in the past, and will hit it again.

Tsunamis usually are caused by under-ocean earthquakes.

They can also be caused by under-ocean volcanoes They can also be caused by under-ocean volcanoes. But this is not common.

Tsunami escape routes are posted in Japan, guiding people to higher ground.

Japanese learn at a young age how to evacuate to higher safety.

Tsunami towers and tsunami shelter buildings are also used.

In the 2011 tsunami, these structures saved lives.

What other places could have tsunamis caused by the Ring of Fire earthquakes?

2010: An 8.8 earthquake hit in the Pacific Ocean just off Chile’s coast. Earthquake: 3:34 am Tsunami hit: 4:45 am

2015: 8.3 Earthquake: 7:54 pm Tsunami hit: 9:30 pm

What about the US?? An strong earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone would create a tsunami that would hit the coast in about 20 minutes.

53’ above sea level Westport, Washington: The first “vertical tsunami shelter” in the US was finished in 2016 and will hold 2000 people.

The Pacific Ocean has a warning system for tsunamis The Pacific Ocean has a warning system for tsunamis. This system warns when a tsunami first forms.

When a huge tsunami hit in the Indian Ocean in 2004, they had NO tsunami early warning system.

People didn’t know the tsunami was coming until it was too late.

When a huge under-ocean earthquake happens, ocean water actually pulls back from the shore.

When the Indian Ocean tsunami happened, these tourists wanted to see what was out there. They got caught in the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Since that disaster, a tsunami warning system has been installed in the Indian Ocean.

Japan has always had to deal with natural disasters from tectonic plate movement. Their best hope is to educate people and to be prepared.