One major way that Japan has started to prepare for the volcano is creating an evacuation plan. This evacuation plan goes through the prefectures of Shizuoka, Yamanashi, and Kanagawa. These prefectural governments have set to prepare for the possible eruption. The plan calls for 750,000 people to leave their homes due to lava and pyroclastic flows. 750,000 people is a big number and it makes me wonder where all these people will go. On top of this number another 470,000 will need to evacuate because of the volcanic ash in the air. Kanagawa is the prefecture most heavily affected, not only by lava flows but also by volcanic ash. Even more people are still affected by the volcanic ash. The evacuation plan states 8.85 million people live in areas where 2 cm or more of volcanic ash is expected to fall. This volcanic ash is going to affect people’s health. A major flaw I read within the evacuation plan is it doesn’t assume an eruption after a major earthquake. This could be a big issue going forward because many times in the past, earthquakes have caused volcanic eruptions. The evacuation plan shows good numbers and data on the people affected. But, in my opinion, they could still be clearer on when to expect the eruption and how it will further affect the people living in the region. After volcanoes erupt, significant amounts of dangerous and toxic gasses can enter the atmosphere such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. It is a good thing Japan has an evacuation plan and is ready to clear people of the area because the environment and personal health are going to be affected. These factors of health and pollution where affected in the 2011 during the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident. The Fukushima incident showed that natura... ... middle of paper ... ...Mount Fuji Eruption? The Watchers, Retrieved from http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2012/09/09/mount-fuji-under-pressure-last-eruption/ Koichi (2013, August 27) Mt. Fuji The Ticking Timebomb. Togugu.com, Retrieved from http://www.tofugu.com/2013/08/27/is-mt-fuji-ready-to-blow/ Klemetti, E. (2009, March 11) How Volcanoes Affect the Economy. Scienceblogs.com. retrieved from http://scienceblogs.com/eruptions/2009/03/11/how-volcanoes-affect-the-econo/ Evacuation plan prepared for mt. fuji eruption. (2014, Feb 06). Jiji Press English News Service. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1494797713?accountid=12598 Japan: Magma chamber of mt. fuji immensely pressured by quakes in 2011. (2012, Sep 08). Asia News Monitor. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1038354568?accountid=12598
MILLER, C. D. POTENTIAL HAZARDS FROM FUTURE ERUPTIONS IN THE VICINITY OF MOUNT SHASTAVOLCANO, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. N.p.: US Government Printing Office, 1980. Print.
Although volcanoes are difficult to predict, geologists have made many efforts in order to caution the people of Orting and other surrounding towns of possible lahar slides. Residents have been made aware of emergency response plans and they know the proper precautions to take in the case of a volcanic activity emergency. Sirens have been put into place by the fire department and governing bodies of surrounding communities that detect volcanic activity and warn the community of ...
These differences are in the makeup of the volcano, the impact on society, and the eruption itself. Mount Saint Helens, used to be a wonder of the world, but now a damage site of what happened on May 18, 1980. Mauna Loa is a tourist destination and one of the most active dispensers of lava and magma in the world. As shown, these volcanoes can’t be more different. Yet, each volcano has been a culprit to destruction, and have similarities within themselves. This report has expressed many similarities and differences and brought facts and knowledge to the historical eruptions by these impressive and ancient structures of
Mt Fuji is a symbol of Japan: contributing to physical, cultural and spiritual representation of Japan. Fuji is also known as one of the three ‘holy’ mountains along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku Fuji stands 3776 meters (12380 feet). It’s still an active stratovolcano and sits on a triple junction of tectonic movement. Fuji is approximately 100km (62 miles) from the largest city and the capital of Japan, which is Tokyo. The last time Fuji erupted which was between 1707 and 1708, volcanic ash fell on Tokyo. Lately the volcano has experienced a rise in popularity from Japanese locals, tourists and artists. Around 2000 and 2001 Japan experienced seismic activity under the volcano and levels were slightly higher than usual, uplifting the concern for the reawakening of the volcano.
TOHOKU, Japan, Friday, Mar. 11 -Yesterday, a 9.0 magnitude Earthquake struck the east of Tohoku, Japan. The epicentre of the earthquake was located approximately 72 km east of Tohoku (38.3 degrees North latitude and 142.4 degrees East longitude), or 130 km east of Sendai as shown by the X in figure 3 below. The focus of the earthquake was 24.4 km under the epicentre. The earthquake therefore caused a tsunami due to the displacing of water above the Pacific Plate. The earthquake and tsunami together have caused approximately 20,000 deaths, 6152 injuries and 2500 people missing. Approximately 90% of these deaths were by drowning. Approximately 140,000 people have been displaced and over 500,000 buildings and structures have been destroyed or damaged. The early warning system of Japan stopped many bullet trains, and many residents received texted warnings of the earthquake and tsunami on their mobile phones giving them time to evacuate. Figures 1 and 2 show exactly how destructive the tsunami caused by the Tohoku Earthquake was.
The eruption on Mount Saint Helens has a specific cause and comes with many effects. A multifold of people would say that the “mountain looked like the site of an atomic blast” (Bredeson 30). That is a very accurate depiction as it took great power to inflict as much damage as it did. The reason for this impressive amount of force is that when magma is built up with pressure and an earthquake hits, the pressure gets magnified and the volcano explodes (Lewis). This is exactly what happened inside Mount Saint Helens. Furthermore, it has been revealed that “The earthquake that triggered the explosion was a 5.2 on the Richter scale” (Gunn 559). The earthquake to the magma can be compared as a match to gasoline. Even though the earthquake was not huge, the scale of the eruption was much greater than that of the earthquake (Gunn 560). The earthquake was only the trigger that allowed for more devastating things to occur. Thirteen hundred feet of the volcano were lost in the explosion followed by landslides, mudslides, and lava flows...
According to USA Today, “In 1950, the eruption of Mauna Loa sent voluminous amounts of lava downslope through small villages in upper Ho’okena, destroying homes, a gas station, lodge, church and a cemetery.” The lava would be concerning to people because in the event that their homes are destroyed, they wouldn’t have a place to live. “The village of Kapoho was entirely destroyed during the 1960 eruption in the lower east rift (fissure) zone of Kilauea” (NOAA Geologic Hazards). A population map would be helpful to have for first responders so they know how many people to evacuate in emergencies. Mauna Loa eruption cause great danger for
1. 1. Mount Unzen, erupted in 1972. Its located in Japan near the Shimabara Peninsula. The earthquake accompanied by an eruption, triggered the collapse of the lava dome. Which then created lava deposits, that created a landslide. The landslide went through the nearby city of Shimabara. Then out to sea, creating a tsunami that tore through two cities and back to Shimabara. Approximately 15,000 people was killed, making it the deadliest volcano in Japan's history. Many of the deaths are due to the tsunami. The eruption caused Plants, animals and aquatic life to be threatened. However, Japans soil is rich, therefore the plants can grow back quickly. Other dangerous effect of this volcano are due to the ash that the wind carries to nearby countries and cities. When the ashes are inhaled it may cause illnesses.
For closer observation, scientists climb up to the volcano, and they camp near the lake of the lava. The scientists’ study would help for more precise prediction about when the next eruption will occur. The study is important because there is a city near the volcano called Goma, and within past 20 years, there were two eruptions which were threat to people living in Goma. For this reason, the people living in the city are in danger and that they always have to stay alert for volcano which could erupt at any time. A...
A super volcano is different to a normal volcano. The physicality maybe similar, but instead of one blast, they are a series of separate eruptions which then converge into one mega eruption. Each is a result of rising and growing chamber of hot molten rock known as magma. The problem is volcanoes are split into three categories: active, dormant and extinct. For scientists, active volcanoes are less of a threat as scientists know when they will erupt. With dormant however, they are scientist’s worst fear as they can come back to life and erupt. Volcanologists at Yellowstone however fear its magma chamber as it is big enough to swallow Tokyo and believe it harbours at least one last punch. According to Professor Robert B Smith who wrote the book Windows into the Earth, Yellowstone could release two million tonnes of sulphuric acid: creating a nuclear winter, blocking out sunlight and causing worldwide famines. He states that the "devastation would be complete and incomprehensible.” with violent earthquakes, before the huge blast would wipe Yellowstone off the face of the Earth. Scientists estimate that 87,000 people would die instan...
The nation is doing things but is it going to help. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration are planning to drill a hole in the crust to let of steam. The team will go and drill into a gas chamber. The reason is to have a less explosive eruption. If they do it wrong the volcano would erupt. The eruption would lead to the midwest crops to die and the rivers would consist of gray slob. If that don't work then nasa would try and cool it down. If
Since the dawn of history, volcanoes have been an awe inspiring feature of the earth that has frightened and intrigued mankind. Volcanoes have taken the lives of over 250,000 people in the last three hundred years and changed the lives of millions of others, but up until recently humans have had very little understanding of the volcanic processes that presage an eruption. The advent and implementation of new technologies and scientific methods has allowed us to begin to comprehend the inner workings of one of nature's most powerful forces. Through understanding how volcanoes work, volcanologists hope to accurately predict when an eruption may occur, what the magnitude and type of eruption will be, and what effect it will have on the surrounding area. Accomplishing this daunting task will ensure that in the future when an eruption occurs, the population at risk will be prepared and lives can be saved.
While the early warning saved thousands of people, the Japan’s Meteorological Agency underestimated this earthquake as the subduction zone of Japan should not produce the magnitude 9.0 quake (Oskin, 2013a). The Tohoku Earthquake and its tsunami approximately killed 16 thousand people, injured 6 thousand people and around 3 thousand people were missing. Most people died from drowning. Around 300 thousand buildings, 4000 roads, 78 bridges, and many more were affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and fires from leaking oils and gas. Electricity, telecommunication, and railways were severely damaged. The debris of 25 million tons was generated and carried out to the sea by water (BBC News, 2012). The country’s authorities estimated more than 309 billion US dollars of damages. Landslides occurred in Miyagi and liquefaction in Chiba, Tokyo, Odaiba, and Urayasu (USGS, 2013). Furthermore, the tsunami destroyed protective tsunami seawalls. Approximately 217 square miles of Japan covered in water (Oskin,
Mount Tambora, located on the Island of Sumbawa, Indonesia is classified as a Stratovolcano. Also known as a composite volcano, Tambora is a tall conical volcano (cone like structure) where layers of the walls are built by hardened lava and volcanic ash. The term composite is used to describe the volcano due to the composite layered structure built from sequential outpourings of eruptive materials1. Among the most common types of volcanoes, Tambora also shares its destructive prowess with best-known volcanoes such as Krakota (1883) and Vesuvius (79 A.D). The Island of Sumbawa is located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain (a group of islands in the southern Maritime Southeast Asia) and is in the province of West Nusa Tenggara3. A map of Mount Tambora is shown in Figure 1 to provide a better perspective of its location. Interestingly enough, Tambora forms its own peninsula on Sumbawa, known as the Sanggar Peninsula. In April of 1815, after years of dormancy, Mount Tambora erupted with great intensity, approximately 7 on the volcanic explosivity index, which is shown in Figure 2. It has been estimated that the eject volume of Tambora was 160 cubic kilometres, which represents the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. The death toll has been projected to be at least 71,000 people, of who over 15% were killed directly from the eruption1. The remaining 75% have been thought to succumb to starvation and disease, as the eruptive fallout decimated the agricultural industry in the region. Following the eruption, a volcanic winter ensued. As sun become less abundant due to clouds of ash, crops and livestock perished. Please note that all definitions appearing in the footnotes are either taken from already referenced so...
The death toll climbs to over 10,000 and is still rising (Branigan 2). The disaster in Japan began without warning on Friday March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm with a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in the country (Fackler 3). A massive thirty-three foot high tsunami, generated by the earthquake, swept over lands in northern Japan, taking objects and debris with it. To make matters worse, the tsunami caused the cooling systems at several nuclear power plants to fail. The disaster in Japan was a tragic event, and it had a plethora of causes and effects.