1. THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE
February 27, 2010

2. The Earthquake
22 miles under the surface of the ocean, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 was activated
The quake was 700 to 800 times stronger than the earthquake in Haiti
The quake was followed by 76 aftershocks. These aftershocks had magnitudes of 4.9 and higher

4. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?
Two tectonic plates – the Nazca plate and the South America plate, pushed past one another. The accumulated pressure resulted in waves of vibration within the Earth. The focus point, or epicenter, of the earthquake was 70 miles from Concepcion, Chile’s second largest city.

6. EFFECTS ON HUMANS
300 people were killed, according to Chile’s Office of Emergency Management
Looting by desperate and hungry citizens
Medical waste is hazardous
Lack of electricity and water
Buildings, cars, and homes destroyed

7. EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT
Forest structure and function is disturbed
Forests completely removed by landslides caused by the earthquake
Soil movements and boulders damage trees
Treefall due to vibration
Medical waste is hazardous

8. EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT continued
Loss of forest can increase danger of other natural disasters - Trees help buffer strong winds and their roots stabilize topsoil so the ground can absorb rain. Loose topsoil and too much rain can increase mudslides and flash floods.
Fires and trenches
Chemicals, waste, and trash damage the environment

9. EFFECTS ON ORGANISMS
Disturbed/destroyed forests deny habitats, food, and resources to organisms
Fires destroy habitats
Ecosystems are disrupted as species are removed

10. PLANKTON

11. SHRIMP

12. FLAMINGO

13. LONG-TAILED FOX

14. Forest Fire

15. MATTER CYCLES ARE AFFECTED
The earthquake has killed many trees – a lack of trees will result in too much carbon in the air, and not enough oxygen for respiration
Too much carbon will increase global warming

16. EARTHQUAKE INDUCES TSUNAMI
The government did not issue a national alert warning of the upcoming tsunami
120 miles of Chile’s coast was hit
Water reached 60 ft
Created waves in Japan and California

17. Tsunami reaches the coasts of Japan and California

18. THE TSUNAMI
Waves increase sediment load which kill corals and sea grasses by smothering
Chemical changes in salt water from raw sewage and decomposition of plants and animals
Ecosystems disrupted as species are removed from the food chain
Waves carry salt water onto the land, which kills trees and plants
Waves pull toxic waste (chemicals, trash) back into the ocean, which affects coral reefs and fish populations

19. OTHER PROBLEMS FOR THE COUNTRY
Copper production suffers (Chile is the world’s number 1 copper producer)
In need of safe disposal for human/medical waste from makeshift tent hospitals
Wine industry suffers (Annual wine output was about 320,000 metric tons in the 1990s) – there has been more than $500 million in damages

20. HELPING THE ISSUE $30 billion has been spent for reconstruction
Food, water, temporary bridges, field hospitals, and more are sent from government and international aid agencies
However, donations are lagging due to excessive aid for the earthquake in Haiti (January 2010)
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon promised at least $10 million

21. SOLUTIONS
Building codes require reinforced vertical columns with steel framing
Reinforced concrete beams join columns to create earthquake-resistant floors and roofs, so buildings stay erect during earthquakes

22. SOLUTIONS CONTINUED
Planting trees will help rebuild forests for habitats, and contribute to oxygen supplies for respiration while taking in carbon to avoid global warming
Funding for building homes, buildings, bridges, roads, and parks
Food, water, medical supplies

23. SOLUTIONS CONTINUED
Bioremediation- introducing organisms to the ocean that can decompose, soak up, or eat waste in the water
This can get the ecosystem back on track after the earthquake has disrupted it

24. SOURCES
""Earthquake in Chile"". Global Issues in Context Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2010.
"CNN.com". CNN. May 26, 2010 <
"AlertNet.org". Thomson Reuters Organization. May 26, 2010 <

25. SOURCES CONTINUED
"findarticles.com". BNET. May 26, 2010 <
"training.fema.gov". FEMA. May 26, 2010 <