CEGR 514: Environmental Impact and Risk Assessment
Natural Disaster: Tsunami in Japan, 2011
Group #5 Members:
Oluseyi Emiola, Pranay Bagde, Hayford Tuffour, Obianuju Ani, and Judy JacksonPringle
Agenda
Introduction
Overview of Japan Tsunami in 2011
Environmental Impact of Tsunami
Economic Impact of Tsunami
Immediate Response
Preventative Measures
Conclusion
Introduction
Natural Disaster adverse event due to Earths natural
processes
Examples: hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes,
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes
Effect on Environment: contaminates water, destroys
agriculture, increases air pollution, health risk and
diseases
Big wave in the port
Tsunami sudden displacement of gigantic water
caused by landslides, earthquakes, volcano eruptions
and/or underwater explosions
Formation of Tsunami
Japan Tsunami
created by an earthquake off the coast
of Japan resulting from the rupture of a
stretch of the sub-duction zone
associated with Japan Trench
Warning Signs
Earth shake due to large undersea earthquake felt
(lasting 20 secs or more)
Sealevel recede/drop
An unusual roaring sound of freight train
History of Tsunamis in Japan
The Great Hakuho Earthquake
November 29, 684 A.D.
1st recorded tsunami
Estimated 8.4 Magnitude
Two most deadliest tsumami:
Tsunami, Japan (2011)
15,889 confirmed dead, 6,152 injured and 2,601 missing
9.0 magnitude struck Sendai, Japan
Honshu/Sanriku Tsunami, Japan (1896)
26,300 killed
8.5 magnitude
Why So Vulnerable?
Vulnerable to disasters
o
Climate,Topography, Location
Countless earthquakes, typhoons and
others
Climate
o
Extreme climatic variations
Seasonal rain fronts
Heavy snowfall on the Sea of Japan
side
of the archipelago
Topography
o
Rugged
Steep inclines
Location
o
Pacific Earthquake belt
Ring Of Fire
Circum-Pacific Zone
almost all volcanoes concentrated
83 active volcanoes (1/10 of world
total)
Statistics
Most recorded tsunamis
195 (as of 1997)
Average one every 6.73
years
Environmental Impact
Environmental Impact
Fukushima moments before the impact
Environmental Impact
Before this
earthquake and
tsunami Japan had
17 power plants
54 reactors, with
two additional
underway
Fukushima is home
to 6 of these
reactors
Came under
construction in
1967, began
operation in 1971
Decommissioned
on April 2012 (1
4) (5 6)
Decommissioned
January 2014
Environmental Impact
Scientific revelation (133ft high tsunami was formed from two waves)
Items have arrived throughout Northern Hemisphere (Alaska,
Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and British Columbia)
Vessels, buoys, sports balls, floating piers, and motorcycle in
shipping container
The air is continuing to be monitored by FDA
FDA are testing fish, some marine debris have been tested with not
radioactive contamination above normal found
NOAA Anticipates seasonal changes in North Pacific winds and
currents will bring arrival of mixed marine debris on western
coastlines of North America, and main Hawaiian Island
Environmental Impact
Environmental Impact
11 of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors were closed immediately
The destruction of the Fukushima power plant released extreme
amounts of radiation
Evacuation of cities and towns near the Fukushima power plant to
prevent harmful radiation
Reduced capacity to produce electricity by 40%
Contamination from radioactive releases
Key Ports were damaged/closed down
Airports shut down (runways flooded)
Major Floods and Damage to the ecosystem
Coastal habitats and ecosystem were destroyed
Damage to urban water supply and sewage network, causing
cross contamination
Environmental Impact
Decline in Japan's agricultural, livestock and fishing
industries due to fear of contamination from radiation
Coastal Erosion
removed all soil within at least 20 meters of the shoreline
exposing the roots of trees that withstood the ow of the water
scouring into underlying beach rock
Covering large areas with salt water
Contaminated deposits
polluting ground and surface waters
changes in coastal zone ecosystem.
Ecology Impact
destroyed coral reefs and seaweed beds.
Economic Impact
World Banks estimated $235 billion
Tourism and fishing the two main economic sectors of the tsunami
affected areas
Accounted for only 2.2% and 1.7% of GDP in 2003.
economists believe that damage to losses in the tourism and fishing
industries are a relatively small percentage of the GDP.
These losses include damage to residential and
commercial buildings and infrastructure
including roads, water supply systems, electric power systems,
schools, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities
The impact on coastal fishing communities
Immediate Response
Immediate Response
In the first hours after the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister
Kan Naoto set up an emergency command center in Tokyo, and a
large number of rescue workers.
Over 100,000 members of Japan self-defense force mobilized to
deal with the Crisis.
dozens
of other countries
and
major
international
relief
organizations such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent pledged
financial and material support to Japan.
Immediate Response
A
large
number
of
private
and
nongovernmental
organizations within Japan and worldwide established
relief funds to aid victims and assist with rescue and
recovery efforts.
Several countries, such as Australia, China, India, New
Zealand, South Korea, and the United States, sent
search-and-rescue teams to Japan.
Mooring System
Measurement to Reduce Natural
Disaster
Technology to detect Tsunami disasters
Early warning system Mooring system
The United Nations started working on an Indian Ocean
Tsunami Warning System
Educating the public
one of the easiest ways to reduce tsunami life loss
the vibrations will be strongly felt
sea level recedes rapidly and inexplicably
Planting more mangroves along the shoreline
Mangroves protect island from the full impact of Tsunami
Coral reef reduce some of the energy of the Tsunami
Conclusion
Left many homeless, negatively impacted the
environment
Means to detect tsunami for preventive measures
Questions and Answers?
