Final Hazards Report
Being in such a high activity location, Japan has encountered some form of almost every disaster we have studied in this course. Being on the ring of fire, Japan's seismicity is a major focus as it contributes to a majority of their disasters. Japan is located at an intersection between four tectonic plates: the Eurasian Plate, the North American Plate, Pacific Plate, and the Philippine Plate. All four of these boundaries are convergent which we all know indicates that the area will experience high earthquake activity and explosive volcanos. This busy intersection of tectonic plates is what leads it to so many disasters because with every shift of the plate, the entire island is at mercy.
With that being said, earthquakes are Japan's primary hazard. This small archipelago withstands over 20% of the planets recorded earthquakes, averaging at 7-8 major quakes per decade. Additionally, being surrounded by water, with every slip of a plate, there is a literal ripple effect. The most infamous recent earthquake was Japan's 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. The Pacific Plate, known as the Okhotsk Plate "Mega-thrusted" in the largest plate displacement in recorded history and resulted in the country's largest recent earthquake recorded at a magnitude 9.2. The earthquake resulted in 20 tsunamis, including one that disabled backup generators of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant resulting in three nuclear meltdowns and global radioactive pollution. While I could go into the other major disasters the country faces, the other major's disasters, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions all coincide with earthquakes and Japan's overall disastrous subductive tectonic proximity.
The biggest issue with earthquakes is how unpredictable they are. If Japan were a utopia with unlimited resources, this would have to be the first recommendation to improve their ability to withstand the damage caused by earthquakes and seismic activity. With a practical sense, developing the science that warns people of earthquakes is imperative to the country's safety as a few seconds warning can save lives. In actual infrastructure, Japan must do better to enforce building codes. Consistently, the Japanese government creates PSAs and works to increase awareness however they must actually "walk the walk." Much older building does not follow safety codes yet still stand and house thousands of citizens. They should first create nationwide building standards so that humans (inevitable) footprint in metropolitan areas can at least withstand the world's largest quakes. The other immediate focus other than research on predicting/warning and safety codes is protecting from the earthquake's "side effects," most particularly, tsunamis. They do this by building normal sea walls but because of Japan's steep coastline, they have also invested in Tetra-pods which connect like puzzle pieces and are able to withstand the brute strength of tsunamis. My recommendation, however, would be that they build taller walls, despite the cost. Japan's ongoing issue over the last few decades is that they only reinforce their infrastructure to stand against their last disaster and they don't invest in protecting from the inevitably more destructive disasters that will only grow in strength with climate change.
Lastly, if I were to construct my house in Japan, it would be far away from the coastline. As a growing country, Japan is increasing their metropolitan areas which are far too crowded and busy for me + a majority of those cities lie on the coast. As beautiful as it is to live by the ocean, it is far to unsafe to invest in a home there with how often Japan faces disasters. I would prefer to live in the seclusion of the mountainous forests far above sea level.
Sources:
Natural Hazards: Earth's Processes as Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes
https://www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/animation/japans_earthquakes__tectonic_setting
https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/covering-coasts-with-concrete-japan-looks-to-tetrapods-to-battle-elements/
With that being said, earthquakes are Japan's primary hazard. This small archipelago withstands over 20% of the planets recorded earthquakes, averaging at 7-8 major quakes per decade. Additionally, being surrounded by water, with every slip of a plate, there is a literal ripple effect. The most infamous recent earthquake was Japan's 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. The Pacific Plate, known as the Okhotsk Plate "Mega-thrusted" in the largest plate displacement in recorded history and resulted in the country's largest recent earthquake recorded at a magnitude 9.2. The earthquake resulted in 20 tsunamis, including one that disabled backup generators of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant resulting in three nuclear meltdowns and global radioactive pollution. While I could go into the other major disasters the country faces, the other major's disasters, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions all coincide with earthquakes and Japan's overall disastrous subductive tectonic proximity.
The biggest issue with earthquakes is how unpredictable they are. If Japan were a utopia with unlimited resources, this would have to be the first recommendation to improve their ability to withstand the damage caused by earthquakes and seismic activity. With a practical sense, developing the science that warns people of earthquakes is imperative to the country's safety as a few seconds warning can save lives. In actual infrastructure, Japan must do better to enforce building codes. Consistently, the Japanese government creates PSAs and works to increase awareness however they must actually "walk the walk." Much older building does not follow safety codes yet still stand and house thousands of citizens. They should first create nationwide building standards so that humans (inevitable) footprint in metropolitan areas can at least withstand the world's largest quakes. The other immediate focus other than research on predicting/warning and safety codes is protecting from the earthquake's "side effects," most particularly, tsunamis. They do this by building normal sea walls but because of Japan's steep coastline, they have also invested in Tetra-pods which connect like puzzle pieces and are able to withstand the brute strength of tsunamis. My recommendation, however, would be that they build taller walls, despite the cost. Japan's ongoing issue over the last few decades is that they only reinforce their infrastructure to stand against their last disaster and they don't invest in protecting from the inevitably more destructive disasters that will only grow in strength with climate change.
Lastly, if I were to construct my house in Japan, it would be far away from the coastline. As a growing country, Japan is increasing their metropolitan areas which are far too crowded and busy for me + a majority of those cities lie on the coast. As beautiful as it is to live by the ocean, it is far to unsafe to invest in a home there with how often Japan faces disasters. I would prefer to live in the seclusion of the mountainous forests far above sea level.
Sources:
Natural Hazards: Earth's Processes as Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes
https://www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/animation/japans_earthquakes__tectonic_setting
https://www.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/kaiyou/english/sl_trend/sea_level_around_japan.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170713154919.htm
Great final reflection. Happy Holidays and great 2019-
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