Tectonic Hazards

• The factors affecting hazard risk are urbanisation , poverty , climate change and population growth
• The physical processes at destructive plate margins are the movement of plates towards eachother due to slab pull. The denser oceanic plate subducts under the continental plate and melts as it gets close to the hot core causing volcanoes and earthquakes.
• The physical processes at conservative plate margins are plates rubbing alongside eachother due to slab pull. The plates lock together, pressure builds up then is released as an earthquake
• the physical processes at a constructive plate margin are the plates moving apart due to slab pull. Magma rises up to fill the gap causing gentle volcanic eruptions on the ocean floor and earthquakes.
• An example of a tectonic hazard in a poorer country (LIC/NEE) is the Haiti earthquake 2010 near the city of Port au Prince
• An example of a tectonic hazard in a richer country (HIC) is the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand 2011.
• Reasons why people continue living in areas at risk from tectonic hazards is because of fertile soil , tourism , geothermal power and minerals near volcanoes. People continue to live in areas at risk of earthquakes because of protection from earthquake proof buildings (HIC) and also not having enough money to leave (LIC)
• Management ca reduce the effects of a tectonic hazard by monitoring (measuring changes which help you to say when hazards will happen), prediction (saying when something will happen which allows you to evacuate) , protection (strong buildings) , planning (evacuation plans)
• the primary effects of tectonic hazards are death , injury , damage and destruction
• the secondary effects of tectonic hazards are loss of jobs/education , disease from contaminated water , psychological/financial problems
• immediate responses to tectonic hazards are rescuing people, supplying emergency aid such as food,water and shelter.
• long term responses to tectonic hazards are rebuilding, supporting people starting businesses, planning to improve the response next time.
• A natural hazard is a natural event that threatens people or has the potential to cause damage,destruction and death.
• The majority of the worlds volcanoes are found around the pacific ring of fire. Volcanoes are found along the mid-atlantic ridge. Volcanoes are typically found along destructive and constructive plate margins. Volcanoes also occur at hotspots such as those on Hawaii.
• urbanisation affects the risk of natural hazards as more densely populated areas are at greater risk of natural hazards. The level of economic development in the area is affected by tectonic hazards, HIC's are better equipped to cope with natural hazards than lower income countries. The geographical location can also increase the risk of natural hazards .
• Evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics is the same types of fossilised plants and animals are found in South America and Africa, the west coast of south america and the east coast of africa fit together like a puzzle, rock formations and mountain chains match in south america and africa, similar mineral deposits and natural resources such as coal exist along the east coast of africa and the west coast of south america.
• risk from volcanoes can be reduced by monitoring (titlt meters , GPS to detect changes in the shape , gas monitoring) , prediction (monitoring changes in the shape of a volcano enables scientists to make predictions) , protection (evacuation of people) and planning (evacuation plans , education and creating exclusion zones)
• the risk of earthquakes can be reduced through monitoring & prediction (radon gas detection, seisometers to measure foreshocks), protection (constructing buildings to withstand earthquakes) , planning (preparing emergency aid supplies, earthquake drills and training people how to respond)