Case Study: Mount St Helens

Reasons for growth in Volcanic Tourism industry:

• Improvements in air travel made places like Hawaii more accessible
• Global media coverage has increased public awareness of these events
• World Heritage sites raise profile of places like Giant's causeway

Mt St Helens:

• Strato volcano in Cascade mountain range
• Before 1980 it attracted people to hunt, ski and hike
• Spirit Lake at its base was popular area for fishing, boating and swimming
• Forests were commercially logged
• 1980 people flocked to see eruption
• Vechicles blocked road to spirit lake
• Souvenir trade: ash in glass vials, tshirts, mugs
• Forestry service sought safe spots where people could view eruption
• Mobile trailers set up to show film footage
• More violent than predicted
• Claimed 57 lives

Recovery:

Economic:

• Spirit Lake Memorial Highway
• Large bridges
• Five visitor centres

Social:

• Mt St Helens Volcanic Monument established

Environmental:

• Several interpretative trails
• sediment retention structure
• Pumice plain receeded
• Outlets cut to release water from lakes created when avalanches dammed streams to decrease flood risk
• Tunnel constructed at Spirit Lake to maintain safe water level

Tourism Issues:

Conservation: 

• Only one road leads to site

• pressure on observatory
• other attractions help
• Erosion - hardened park area with 420 vehicle capacity
• Destruction by vistors
• trampling can damage pioneer speicies
• $100 fine for stepping on or picking wildflowers

Case Study: Earthquakes in MEDC vs LEDC

Comparing the New Zealand Earthquake (an MEDC) to the Kashmir earthquake (an LEDC)

Facts	New Zealand Earthquake (MEDC)			Earthquake in Pakistan (an LEDC)
Place (Include a map)	Christchurch, New Zealand
Time and Date	22nd February 2011 – 12:51 and 43 seconds local time (23:51 UK Time)			8th October 2006- 03:50 GMT
Epicentre	10km south-east of Christchurch			80km North –East of Islamabad
Magnitude	6.3 on the Richter Scale			7.6 on the Richter scale
Depth of focus	5km deep			10km deep
Plate names	Indo-Australian Plate and Pacific Plate			Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate
Type of margin	Destructive			Conservative
Why was the earthquake so destructive?	The earthquake was so destructive due to its depth and location. The focus of the earthquake was only 5km deep meaning that the seismic waves don’t degenerate a lot before reaching the surface. Secondly the epicentre of the earthquake was a mere 10km South-East of Christchurch, which is New Zealand’s second biggest city. This means that the population density in the area is very high. In some areas there were 45-55 people per hectare (2008).  The area was also very urbanised with lots of tall buildings and the earthquake struck at midday when many people were in the area. This is in comparison to the earthquake that hit New Zealand on the 3rd September 2011, which had a higher magnitude of 7.1 on the Richer Scale but was located 40km west of the city and had its focus 10km deep meaning it caused little damage (0 deaths) compared to the earthquake on the 22nd February which has so far caused 161 deaths with many missing.			The earthquake was so destructive because many people were not prepared for an earthquake of that magnitude (7.6 on the Richter scale) to hi the country. Building where poorly built and not earthquake resistant.  For example the earthquake was strong enough to topple a building 100km from the epicentre. To add to this winter was approaching after the earthquake. Freezing temperatures of –15C to –20 and heavy snow in highland areas meant that there was more chances of diseases spreading and aid workers found it difficult to get through to these remote areas (e.g. Neelum Valley).
Primary (immediate) effects – include key facts
Social	·   166 people dead. ·   228 people still unaccounted for. ·   Airport was closed. ·   Power and telephone lines have been knocked down. ·   Towns including Lyttleton, Shirley and New Brighton remain without electricity (3 days since earthquake).		·      88,000 people dead ·      The earthquake affected 3.5m people. ·      70,000 people injured. ·      80% of health facilities in the earthquake struck region where destroyed.
Economic	·   Timeball station in Lyttelton harbour was running at 40% capacity and the tunnel linking the harbour to Christchurch was only open to emergency services (3rd March).		·      The earthquake affected 30,000sq km of land.
Environmental	·   A lot of litter and rubble produced. ·   The earthquake also produced liquefaction.  ·   Burst water pipes causing flooding.		·A lot of litter and rubble produced. ·Buildings knocked down. ·Leaking gas pipes ·Burst water pipes.
Secondary (longer term) effects include key facts
Social	·   Water supplies were cut of for half the city and much of the water is contaminated (14 water tankers have been placed around the city). 3 days since earthquake. Could cause the spread of disease. ·   Shelter’s closed down due to spread of disease. ·   Social problems from family losses and stress.		j ·   Due to lack of recourses and shelter the government had to distribute 350,000 tents, 3.2 million blankets and 3,000 tonnes of medicine. ·   In Muzaffarabad a sports stadium is being used to look after the homeless and provide food and water. ·   Stress and trauma for families.
Economic	·   Insurance loses could be as high as £5.5bn. ·   The cost of the earthquake is expected to reach £9.5bn. ·   Loss of revenue from tourism.		·      The Pakistani government has distributed $44milion to 379,600 people to rebuild homes. ·      $4.5 billion dollars of International aid was given to help relief efforts in the area struck by the earthquake. ·      The UK government has provided £12 million to help the relief effort.  ·      Loss of revenue from tourism.
Environmental	·   Can cause ecosystems to be damaged. ·   Roads will need to be rebuilt. ·   At least 1/3 of the buildings in the centre of Christchurch will need to be demolished.		·      Many buildings had to be re-build by their owners. Each homeowner received 150,000 rupees to re-construct their house. ·      Roads will need to be rebuilt.
Responses
Immediate responses	·   Search for survivors- 70 people were rescued alive from the wreckage.  ·   Providing key resources for survivors (e.g. food, water, shelter). ·   Welfare centres have been set up. For example the Aranui Primary School and the Opawa Baptist Church. ·   Worldwide response: The UK government has sent a team of 62 people and 9 tonnes of equipment to help in Christchurch. (22nd Feb)  ·   Temporarily fix burst water pipes, sewage systems e.c.t.		·      Search for survivors ·       $4.5 billion dollars of International aid was given to help relief efforts in the area struck by the earthquake. ·      The UK government has provided £12 million to help the relief effort.  ·   Providing key resources for survivors (e.g. food, water, shelter). ·      Welfare centres have been set up. For example In Muzaffarabad a sports stadium is being used to look after the homeless and provide food and water.
Long term			·      The Pakistani government has distributed $44milion to 379,600 people to rebuild homes. ·      Many roads are being re-build ·      Pakistan’s Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) has been put in place.
Prediction
Were there any techniques in place which predicted the occurrence of the earthquake?		No, owever earthquakes are common as New Zealand sits on the ring of fire.			No, the area was known for earthquakes however there were no mechanisms in place to predict this earthquake.
Preparation
Has there been any preparation for future earthquakes? E.g. Evacuation policies		·     People (including emergency services) will be much more aware of the threat an earthquake imposes and be able to deal with the affects. ·      They will also have more emergency equipment to deal with the situation. ·     Earthquake evaluation plans in schools, offices and public buildings.			·      The public services are more prepared for a future earthquake. They will be able to respond to the situation immediately. ·      However they need to receive more equipment in order to deal with the situation effectively.  ·      UNDP’S - Earthquake Recovery Programme (ERP) was actively involved in combating the ongoing issue of landslides through implementing innovative and cost-effective techniques of slope stabilization in local communities. ·      Earthquake proof schools in the Kashmir region. ·      Teaching those in the construction business about how to earthquake proof building designs.
Prevention
What, if anything, has been done to prevent such death and destruction in the future?		·   Building designs in the future will probably be much more earthquake resistant. ·   They may have dampening or bracing systems to help absorb the shocks. ·   They will also have lead rubber bearing to absorb the shock. ·   Emergency services need to be trained to cope with earthquakes.			·      There has been a bit of prevention for future earthquakes however many attempts have become unsuccessful. ·      The Pakistani Government has stated that people must rebuild their homes against Pakistan’s Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra). However by October 2006 many people still had not received money from the government to rebuild their homes- so many still lived in shelters.

Predict/Protect/Prepare

Kashmir Earthquake

Prediction techniques	China is working closely with Pakistan on predicting when earthquakes are likely to happen – using the technology that China has in place to monitor.
Preparation for earthquakes	The UNDP - Developing a range of programme to analyse the risks of a disaster in different areas. The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority: •Use hazard mapping to plan development • Assess risks and vulnerabilities of the public infrastructures (Schools, Hospitals etc.) and private housing.  • Review the impact of settlement pattern and land use practices and options in high risk areas. • Prepare policies on emergency preparedness, response and post disaster recovery.
Protection techniques	UNDP’S - Earthquake Recovery Programme (ERP) was actively involved in combating the ongoing issue of landslides through implementing innovative and cost-effective techniques of slope stabilization in local communities. Earthquake proof schools in the Kashmir region. Teaching those in the construction business about how to earthquake proof building designs.

Case Study: Kashmir Earthquake

Kashmir Earthquake
8th October 2005

This was a major earthquake located in Kashmir and  the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

The epicentre was Muzzaffarabad  in the Kashmir region of Pakistan, 80km north-east of Islamabad.

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake took place on Saturday 8th October at 0925 local time.  

The earthquake killed over 80,000 people. Pakistan's official death toll was 79,000, while officials say nearly 1,400 people also died in Jammu and Kashmir  in India and four people in Afghanistan.

Cause, prediction and preparation for the earthquake

The earthquake in Pakistan is the result of the collision of the Indian Plate north into the Asian plate.

North West Pakistan lies close to the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates

This boundary is a collision zone where the intense stress between the two plates has created the Himalayan mountain chain by compressing and uplifting rock strata

The collision of the Indian with Eurasian plate has given rise to stresses that are responsible for many of the earthquakes in India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The earthquake lasted longer 60 seconds rather than the 20-30 seconds that is normal in this area

Although scientists know that earthquakes are likely to occur in this area they do not know exactly when.

The area is very poor so most people are inadequately prepared for  large earthquakes.

There are few earthquake regulations for buildings and even these are rarely enforced.

Why was this earthquake so devastating?

It is thought to be the strongest earthquake to hit the region in a century.

Few buildings were built to withstand such a severe shockwave

It was followed by 20 powerful aftershocks which forced survivors to live outside

Many of the areas affected were in remote valleys which were often blocked by landslides which hindered relief efforts

Many children had just began their lessons in school buildings which collapsed during the earthquake. Over 8,000 schools were destroyed.

Effects of the earthquake

The earthquake killed over 80,000 people

Many children had just began their lessons in school buildings which collapsed during the earthquake. Over 8,000 schools were destroyed.

Children have been the biggest number of casualties as many had just started lessons when the earthquake struck and were killed when their schools collapsed.

An entire generation of young people has been wiped out in the areas worst hit (e.g Balakot).