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?