Fukushima Disaster and Earthquake Monitoring Essay

by jackbardsleystudentscotchwaedu (student)

Fukushima report

The worlds’ continents are situated on several tectonic plates around the world, which are up to 100km thick or thicker, which move with molten magma under the earths crust in the mantle. The plates can translate – slide past each other, converge – slide into each other or diverge – slide away from each other. These movements cause natural disasters that greatly impact cities and countries. There are around 1,000,000 natural disasters that occur each year. Science has come up with solutions today to predict and/or limit the amount of destruction and damage caused by natural disasters.

The Eurasian plate is situated in the Pacific Ocean, Japan lies on the edge of the plate. In March 11 2011, a major earthquake hit 100km of the coast of Japan. The worst affected area was Fukushima, a prefecture located on the north Eastern Island of Honshu, facing the Pacific Ocean. The earthquake was 9.0 on the Richter scale, the largest in Japanese history. The city of Fukushima thrives in farming and agriculture and is one of the leading cities in nuclear power. When the initial quake hit waves of shock were sent from the plate edges. Waves that are sent from the quake location are known as primary waves (P-waves), Secondary waves (S-waves) and Love waves, P-waves travel at 5km a second and S-waves travel at 3km a second Love waves are the slowest waves, however they are the most devastating waves. The earthquake was instrumental in the destruction of Japan, but not as influential as the tidal waves that trailed, Waves as high as ten meters, struck Sendai and other low-lying coastal regions of the Miyagi prefecture. The tidal waves became more volatile as they approached shallow sand banks and areas. In the days to follow the earthquake the cities experienced hundreds of aftershocks.

Scientists have developed various methods to predict and decrease the destruction caused by earthquakes and tsunamis. NASA has developed airborne radar based on mapping technology that allows scientists to see earthquake ground movement. The system identifies deadly ground movement that can then alert the citizens of the cities to evacuate and leave, to prevent as many deaths. The earthquake mapping shows movements of the ground, during and just before. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit California at the start of April 2012 the airborne radar alerted the centre and they alerted the citizens to evacuate.

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The maps are picked up from a Gulfstream-III aircraft that has a radar antenna. Pilots of the Gulfstream-III have been making measurements of the area in southern California since the start of or large motions that occurred below the surface of the , (on the fault line) which can't be seen by any naked eye. Mr. Donnellan the creator of the system says to scientists that he can use these maps to find out how the fault lines are behaving in detail. (Erdman, 2010)

This advanced equipment is a brand new technology that can be used as a type of early warning system. The image will ve taken by the gulfstream are and sent straight from the satellite to the government or society who have purchased the system. This equipment can give people the chance to brace their selves or hide for cover in a bunker or basement before the disaster hits. This system can also look at the ground movement after the earthquake, helping scientists around the world with their research on ground movement and earthquakes. The new technology does have faults though. For example the system cannot see in detail what the fault lines are doing. To see in detail, the purchaser/user would have to combine the surface image (image taken by gulfstream) to the computer models (pictures sent to computer); in other words this takes time, which makes it an unhelpful early warning system. “It's going to take years of observation and years of studying” Mr Donnellan the creator of the system quoted. (Erdman, New technology could one day lead to an earthquake prediction system, 2010)

The airborne solution is environmentally friendly, compared to the usual earthquakes detectors that cause disruption of the Earth surface. The airborne, Gulfstream-III is new technology that is still been improved by NASA. This solution unlike others takes pictures from the air and does not disrupt the earths surface, unlike others that evolve drilling and deforestation to install. The surface images taken by the satellite are run by electricity, which is run by coal, this releases carbon dioxide, which is horrible for the environment. Although it uses fossil fuels this solution can save lives in alerting citizens before the natural disaster hits. With the solution been environmentally friendly it can be used to it for capacity, as it will get approval from governments, as it is ecofriendly. Most other earthquake detectors proposed will not be environmentally friendly and this solution will get chosen above all.

The economic factor of this solution is very expensive and will be very hard for small countries to fund. The government/purchaser will be out for pocket in the short term but will save lives in the long run, as it can alert citizens in the situation of an earthquake.

In conclusion, a solution in detecting and decreasing the amount of damage caused by earthquakes is becoming ever so demanding. With the large destruction of the Fukushima and the nuclear power plant accident a solution is needed for the future. My proposed solution is to install the early warning system this system monitors the ground movements and picks up fringe patterns if fault lines play up. The environmental factor of this solution is admirable, as it doesn’t disrupt the Earths surface. Although the economic factor is very pricy it in the short term it will save life’s in the long term as the plane will asses the earths surface and will alert the citizens before the quake hits.

Bibliography

Annenberg Foundation. (2013). Plates & Boundaries . Retrieved November 12, 2013, from AnnenbergsLearner: http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/images/new_map.jpg

Australian Government Geo Sciecne. (2012, August 12). Earthquake Basics. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from Hazards: http://www.ga.gov.au/hazards/earthquakes/earthquake-basics.html

Enchanted learning. (2007). The Ring of Fire. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from Volcanos: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/volcano/ringoffire/

Encyclopædia Britannica. (2013, January 12). Earthquakes. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from Earthquakes: http://school.eb.com.au/levels/middle/article/274104#199871.toc

Erdman, S. L. (2010, July 1). New technology could one day lead to an earthquake prediction system. Retrieved november 12, 2013, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/06/30/nasa.earthquakes/index.html?_s=PM:TECH

Erdman, S. L. (2010, July 1). New technology could one day lead to an earthquake prediction system. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/06/30/nasa.earthquakes/index.html?_s=PM:TECH

Silver Docters. (2013, August 27). 11 FACTS ABOUT THE ONGOING FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST THAT ARE ALMOST TOO HORRIFYING TO BELIEVE. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from Silver Docters: http://www.silverdoctors.com/11-facts-about-the-ongoing-fukushima-nuclear-holocaust-that-are-almost-too-horrifying-to-believe/

Stocks, J. (2012, August 24). Earthquakes. Retrieved November 8, 2013, from World Book: http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar171680&st=earthquake