Tectonic hazard: Human impacts

By Nick, Jordan, Jamie and Imogen.

Reasons people live in tectonically active areasIt is predicted that by 2025, 600million

people will be living in tectonically active areas.

Reasons they may live their include: ignorance, lack of education or the area could offer benefits that make it worth taking the risk including fertile ground, tourism and natural resources.

Edexcel A2 Geography Student Unit Guide New Edition: Unit 4 Contemporary Geographical Issues, HOLMES 2012

Casualties of HazardsThere are three types of casualty of a hazard- Primary: People killed/injured by a volcanic eruption or

earthquake - Secondary: People who survive the initial incident but are either

injured or die because of lack of resources and emergency care- Tertiary: People who suffer from pre existing medical conditions

aggravated by the hazard event In developed countries these numbers tend to be lower due to anarray of factors such as advanced early warning systems, higherquality construction, more available medical care and in general

betterinfrastructure

Introduction to Case Study: Montserrat (1995-97)The island of Montserrat is the location of the

Soufriere Hills Volcano (Situated in the south of the island).

The volcano reaches over 900m above sea level with many lava domes around the summit.

The Soufriere Hills volcano is a andesitic magma volcano.

Having being volcanically active since the sixteenth century, the Soufriere Hills Volcano started erupting on 18th July 1995 with a VEI (volcanic explosivity index) score of 3.

Human Impacts Case Study: Montserrat (1995-97)

When the pyroclastic flows and mudflows began occurring regularly, the capital city Plymouth was evacuated.

A few weeks after the Plymouth a pyroclastic flow covered the city in several metres of debris.

On August 3rd noxious gasses swept through the evacuated city, this caused extensive damage to buildings and community facilities by direct impact and burial.

On 25th June 1997 a very large pyroclastic flow occurred, in a matter of minutes it dumped 4 to 5 million m3 of lava and covered 4km2 on the eastern side of the island, killing at least 9 people, destroying the islands airport and more than 100 homes.