Earthquakes
Introduction
The 11th of March, 2011 72km off Japan's North East coast at 2:46pm (local time) a earthquake of a magnitude 9.0 on the Richter scale occurred lasting 6 minutes. This resulted in 15, 883 deaths, 6,149 injuries and 2,652 people missing with a economic cost of US $235 billion. The earthquake was an undersea mega thrust earthquake at the plate boundary of the Pacific (Oceanic crust) and North American (Continental Crust). Here there is a subduction zone (destructive margin) in which the Pacific Plate is moving under the Eurasian Plate at a rate of 8-9cm per year. Japan is a More Economically Developed Country (MEDC). This means that Japan has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure, giving Japan citizens good healthcare, education and a developed industry. The earthquake has faced Japan with the challenge of rebuilding and preparing. |
Introduction
The Great Chilean Earthquake occurred on the 22nd of May 1960 at 3:11pm (local time) and was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded (accurately since the 1900's) with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter Scale. The depth of the earthquake was 33km and with an uncertain death toll it has been estimated between 2,220 to 6,000. The economic cost has also been predicted 2.9-5.9 US billion. The earthquake was a mega thrust of the Nazca Plate (oceanic crust) and South American Plate (continental crust). This is a subduction zone at the Peru-Chile Trench and the Nazca Plate is moving under the South American Plate. Chile is a Less Economically Developed Country (LEDC). Therefore Chile has a underdeveloped industry, a low standard of living and a low Human Development Index (HDI: found through averaging life expectancy, income and education). Though Chile at the moment is a LEDC it is showing some signs of becoming a MEDC. The earthquake had a major impact of Chile effecting them socially, environmentally and economically. |