Tectonic Hazards

• Destructive volcano

  • If an oceanic and continental plate collide, the denser oceanic plate is subducted and sinks below the continental plate and into the Earth’s mantle
  • This causes part of the mantle to melt under high temperature and pressure and hot magma may rise up through the overlying mantle
  • This may eventually erupt out of the earth’s surface causing a volcano
• Nepal Earthquake

  • 7.8 magnitude Gorkha earthquake
  • Nepal in 2015
  • 8000 people dead
  • More than 1 million homeless
• An avalanche caused by the Nepal earthquake swept through Everest Base camp in the Himalayas killing 19 tourists
• Advantages of living with hazards

  • Volcanoes, including hot springs, attract tourists which creates employment and may have a multiplier effect
  • Magma and lava may contain minerals including gold, silver, diamonds, copper and zinc
  • Geothermal energy can be harnessed by using steam from underground heated by magma
• Earthquakes at destructive margins

  • As the two plates converge, pressure builds up and the rocks eventually fracture causing an earthquake
• Planning

  • Prepare emergency aid and distribution
  • Practise earthquake/volcano drills
  • Plan evacuation routes