Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake 2011
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Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake 2011
- Part 1：What had happened in Tohoku, Japan on 11 March 2011?
(a) Watch a news video clip on 11 March 2011 and answer the following questions:
Source from: ATV news
- What kinds of tectonic hazards had happened in Tohoku, Japan stated in the news video clip?
- What is the height of the waves triggered by the tectonic hazards?
- What kinds of effects does this tectonic hazards bring to the coastal areas?
- Which countries and regions do the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center expand the tsunami warning to?
(b) The following satellite images were taken before and after the tectonic hazards occurred on 12 March 2011:
Source from: New York Times
1.Use the slider from the photos to compare the differences of landscape before and after the tectonic hazards.2.Use Google earth and Altas to locate the 5 affected areas by the tectonic hazards of Sendai, Iwate, Miyagi, Ibaraki and Fukushima, and fill in the boxes in Figure 1 below.
3.Describe the location distribution of the 5 affected areas mentioned in (b) 2.
Figure 1：Map of Japan
Figure 2：Map of global plates distribution
Source from: ihouse.hkedcity
Figure 3：Map of global volcanic belts
Source from:
(c) Read Figures 2 and 3 of page 4 and answer the following questions. What are causes of Tohoku, Japan earthquake? What are the relationshipsbetween the Tohoku Earthquake and plate movements?
Relationship among plate distribution, earthquake zone and JapanEarthquake
Major plates involved in this earthquake
Movements of plates
Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake 2011
Part 2：What are the impact of the Japan (Tohoku) earthquake？
(a)Refer to the link below, summarize the impact of the tectonic hazards.
Source from: BBC
(b) By searching from the internet, check the current numbers of lives causalities and missing people. ______
(c) According to the following website, explain the reasons for increasing number of deaths after the earthquake occurred from 11 March 2011?
Source from: BBC
Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake 2011
Part 3：Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan–Country disaster=Global disaster?
(a)The links reveals the situation of Fukushima nuclear plant after 11 March 2011 earthquake.
- Source from: BBC
Mingpao daily
Read the newspaper cuttings below and search for more information in regard to Tohoku, Japan earthquake. Discuss how the radiation leak from Fukushima nuclear plant affects humans, ecosystem, environment and economy worldwide. Summarize the impact by using the mind map, on page 8.
Figure 1：World map
Nuclear radiation objects spread worldwide
Effects of nuclear radiation crisis in Japan has been further expanded through the shipping, Two Japanese tourists from Nagano and Saitama, were detected excessive amount of radiation at Wuxi, Jiangsu airport. Whilst radiation was also detectedfrom a U.S.ship had parked the Port of Tokyo in Xiamen, Fujian.
Newscut 1
12 millionpeople of the world fear of cancer
The nuclear power plant in Fukushima I radioactivewater leakage expandsits crisis, following the emergence III reactor units exceeded one million times with radioactive water, so do the other three reactors ... the European Committee stated the risk of radiation in Fukushima, will lead to twelve million people of the world with cancer in the next five years.
Newscut 2
Expert: Infant mental retardation
Living in radiation affected areas for long period of time may find problems such
as fertility problems, higher opportunity of giving birth to mentally retarded babies.
Newscut 3
Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis
"the worst situation is not over"
In case of huge damage found in reactor III, a serious situation will result in a lot of radioactive water directly leaks to the sea in which will cause severe water pollution.
Newscut 4
Global automotive electronics supply were found affected
Japan is the world's major supplier and producer of electronics parts for automotive, auto parts and steel. Although this earthquake does not result extensive damage to the plant, but production has stopped which affects the global supply chain of related electronic products. Car exports definitely will be affected in the coming weeks.
Newscut 5
Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake 2011
Part 4：Comparing and contrast the damages and preventive measures of earthquakes in Indonesia and Japan?
(a) : Read the following information and complete Table 1 and answer the answers.
Source from: Mingpao daily
Case Study 1：magnitude 9earthquake in Indonesia
December 26, 2004 a Richter magnitude 9 earthquake occurred in Indonesia, and triggered a tsunami which swept the Indian Ocean killing about 15 million people dead, millions homeless, billions of dollars in economic losses. Earthquake in the 7:59 am local time occurred as far away as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia also felt shock.
Seismic experts say a strong earthquake in Indonesia triggered a tsunami to Southeast Asian countries, heavy casualties was caused by the lack of tsunami early warning system. If it could have been made, many people could survive. But the affected areas was no official warning system. Assisting in the relief work, Sri Lankan police complained that the country did not predict the devastating power of natural disaster. Therefore, relief work for them is a huge challenge. And the roads were broken by the disaster, only rescuestuff could be supplied by air.
Case Study 2：Japan magnitude 9 Earthquake
On March 11, 2011 afternoon, a devastating magnitude of 9earthquake occurred and thereby triggeredoff tsunami, at least 50 countries and regions including Taiwan, Hawaii, Canada and even South America have issued a tsunami warning. The earthquake had caused more than 1 million people dead and missing. Estimated economic loss of the Japanese government hit by the earthquake and tsunami, the amount may be higher than 2.4 trillion dollar, representing about 6% of GDP.
Japan's location in the circum-Pacific seismic belt with frequent earthquakes, the Japanese government and Japanese nationals have strong sense of disaster prevention and conduct regular drillings to prevent earthquakes, it indeed plays an important role to reduce earthquake casualties. In addition, local governments develop and improve the disaster prevention system from time to time in terms of the relief process. It can prevent and reduce disaster damage, and then adjust the disaster prevention system.
The Japanese has developed "Earthquake Early Warning System" in 2006 which offersa great help on the electricity, gas and railway system after the struck of earthquake.
(b) Complete Table 1.
Earthquake Information / Indonesia / JapanEarthquake intensity
No. of deaths
No. of homeless people
- Which country is a More Developed Countries?
- Refer to the information in Part 4 (a), compare the differences of disasters measures taken between the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia, 2004 and that in Japan.
- Do you think the natural hazards happened on 11 March 2011 a huge one? Are we truly prepared for living with those natural hazards? Could we better equip?