SASS EGeog Tectonic Hazards Pt3

St Andrew’s Secondary School Geography Unit Topic: Living with Tectonic Hazards Part 3 Name: _________________________________________ ( ) Class:_______ Date: ____________ 1. Study Fig. 1 below. Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits northern Sumatra On the afternoon of July 2, 2013, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck near Takengon, the capital city of the Central Aceh Regency in northern Sumatra, causing significant casualties and property damage (total estimated at 24 deaths, 210 inju red, and about 1500 buildings damaged according to the National Agency for Disaster Management in Indonesia, BNPB). The Indonesian island of Sumatra is located in a highly seismic area of the world. In addition to the subduction zone and the associated Sunda Arc off the west coast of the island, Sumatra also has a large transform fault, the so-called Great Sumatran Fault, running the entire length of the island. This fault zone accommodates most of the lateral motion associated with the oblique convergence between the Indo- Australian and Eurasian plates. The significant damage for the moderate size of the earthquake is due to the shallow crustal depth of its source, the proximity of th e epicenter to the population centre and the materials used for construction purposes. Fig. 1 Based on the information in Fig. 1, explain why Sumatra is prone to earthquakes and why a moderate size earthquake like this can cause such significant damage to properties and injury to a large number of people. [6]

2. Study Fig. 2, which shows the damage of earthquakes in Nepal. Fig. 2 With reference to Fig. 2 and studies made, suggest reasons for the difference in damage shown. [4] 2015 Magnitude:7.9 80 km from Kathmandu. Population: over 2.5 million More than 9,000 killed, over 23,000 injured 1934 Magnitude:8.0 Most destructive earthquake in Nepal’s history. Population: over 3 million Over 10,000 killed, Kathmandu and several other cities completely destroyed 2011 Magnitude: 6.9 Population: 1.5 million 6 killed, 30 seriously injured, 13,000 displaced. 1988 Magnitude:6.8 Population: 2.3 million 722 killed across Nepal and India. 12,000 injured, 460,000 left homeless 1980 Magnitude:6.5 Population: over 1 million 178 killed. 40,000 homes destroyed.

St Andrew’s Secondary School Geography Unit Topic: Living with Tectonic Hazards Part 3 Name: _________________________________________ ( ) Class:_______ Date: ____________ 3. Study Fig. 3 a, shows the nature of the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015 and Fig. 3 b shows the statistics of earthquakes between Nepal and Japan. Earthquake profile in Nepal Fig. 3a

Comparison of Earthquake Statistics Country Nepal, 2015 Japan, 1993 Magnitude 7.8 7.7 Death toll 8000 239 Fig. 3b Refer to Figs. 3a and 3b and studies made, account for the earthquake in Nepal and suggest why Nep