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

Volcanoes Human: 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’s More 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, people killed Tend to lack disaster response plans

Montserrat 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 to 4000 due to evacuation/ emigration to the North In 2005 visitors began to return-

The Asian Tsunami 2004 Lack of warning 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 time Over 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 impact Long 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 model Quality of life Level of economic activity Social stability Source: Nick Park