The Human Impacts of Tectonic Landforms and Hazards

Even today in that respect ar the great unwashed who do not understand why or where tectonic drill takes place. Tectonic activity does not only take place at plate boundaries intra-plate temblors, e.g. Bam, Iran. This leads people to think it wont happen to them.The underdeveloped world has fewer resources or expertise to study the natural milieu (or human environment) methods to identify areas at risk may not be (e.g. poorer levels of education), especially if the area is not very active.Read this Ch. 22 respiratory SystemPompeii a classic case of ignorance to disaster. The lack of an eruption in living memory led many to believe that Vesuvius was dormant. In 79AD there was no expectation of an eruption people were caught completely unaware. At the time, the acquaintance was not understood many believed the eruption, and preceding earth tremors were the gods anger.Choice or so people know the risks, but lack financial resources, or take away close links to family in t he area, and are therefore unable/ loath to move. Other choose to stay, as the benefits outweigh the courts, e.g. Southern California thoroughly paid jobs and a pleasant climate outweigh concerns over earthquake risk.The benefits of tectonically active areasMinerals and natural resources volcanoes bring valuable resources to the surface of the earth, e.g. Diamonds, copper, gold. Seafloor volcanoes contribute to the aggregation of metals, e.g. zinc, lead mining industries.Fertile soils volcanic material breaks down by means of weathering to provide nutrients (minerals) for plant growth.Geothermal energy.Tourism and associated employment, e.g. hotels, transport, tour guides.Heat and bosom turn organic matter into deposits of oil and gas.Impacts on people and possessionsThe hardship of the disturbs depends on physical factors (e.g. event profiles, geology, terrain) and human factors (e.g. universe of discourse density).Physical impacts on peopleDamage/destruction of property and floor.Volcanoes luckily of erupted lava is from underwater volcanoes, such(prenominal) of it along ocean ridges, so the impact is minor. The greatest risk is at destructive plate margins. Most active volcanoes are found in the ontogeny world, e.g. Latin america, the Caribbean, parts of Asia and the south-west Pacific.Increased urbanisation and population growth concentrates people and infrastructure.Earthquakes the finish up earthquakes are not necessarily those with the largest magnitude. The wrap up impacts are felt in densely populated areas and areas with high vulnerability. economic impacts on peopleThese can be direct or indirect. a good deal greater in developed countries than developing countries.Direct impacts include ceiling goods and equipment destroyed. They can occur immediately, or later as a gist of follow-on damage or deterioration.Indirect impacts occur as a resolution of interruption to commercial systems, lost wages, and lost opportunities to do bu siness.Macroeconomic impacts are felt across the whole economy of the community, region, or in the worst case the whole nation.The Northridge earthquake (California, 1994) 60 deaths but US$30 billion in economic impact, as it hit dense infrastructure in the San Fernando Valley.Social impacts on peopleHuman life is irreplaceable.Volcanoes almost impact on human life is due to pyroclastic flows or lahars (e.g. Nevado del Ruiz).Earthquakes tsunamis are particularly terrifying. The 1883 Krakatau eruption triggered tsunamis that killed 36 000 and destroyed 165 coastal villages.The impact on human life is usually greater from earthquakes than from volcanic eruptions. primary(a) casualties those killed/ wound directly by the event. Usually greater in developing countries than developed.Secondary casualties those that survive the event itself but die/are injured due to insufficient resources or lack of medical care. Again, usually greater in developing countries than developed.Tertiar y casualties those with pre-existing medical conditions that are exacerbate by the event. Includes those who become ill/die. For example, through disease contracted in the post-disaster environment. In developing countries, these are often the largest group of casualties.Poverty reduces the mental ability to reduce the impacts, or to recover.Environmental degradation reduces natural impact buffers, e.g. mangrove removal (Indian Ocean, 2004), and therefore contributes to delaying recovery time.Note to more accurately analyze the impacts in developed and developing countries, it is better to use damage cost as a % of GDP, as developed countries have more infrastructure, etc., to be damaged. The absolute costs may be lower in a developing country, but the relative costs (as a % of GDP) are plausibly to be much higher.