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physical geography - hazardous environments case studies
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Case study notes for the hazardous environments subtopic of physical geography (CIE Geography 9696). A level Geography.
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Hazardous environments1. For one hazardous environment that you have studied, discuss the nature of
the hazard and evaluate the extent to which this has been successfully
managed. [20]
Nature of hazard (mount Nyiragongo):
● Two lava streams emerged from the volcano at a height of 1,800 metres
● One stream flowed east in the direction of Rwanda, while the other headed towards
Goma, stopping 300 metres from Goma International Airport
● Strong aftershocks were recorded in Rwanda on 26 May, including a magnitude 5.1
earthquake under Lake Kivu (Al Jazeera 25/05/2021). A magnitude 4.7 earthquake in
northeast Goma on the same day and fear of a second eruption triggered the
evacuation of the city ordered by local authorities
● The Mt. Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo began erupting the
morning of Saturday, May 22, 2021, with fissures in the southern side of the volcano
sending lava pouring into nearby towns
● ash plumes rose to 6.1-9.1 km during 22-23 May
● It hosts a near-persistent lava lake, with large volumes of molten lava contained
within its volcanic crater
Successfully managed?:
● No warning because the World Bank had eliminated funding for the scientists
performing the observations in 2020
- according to the scientific director Celestin Kasareka Mahinda, shortage of
funding was the reason that made it difficult for the scientists at the Goma
Volcano Observatory to caution the public on the eruption
● Chaotic evacuation because the government did not have clear plans
- Following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22, Congolese
authorities ordered the evacuation of 10 of Goma's 18 neighbourhoods
● organisations such as the UN Peacekeeping Mission MONUSCO helped manage the
situation by sending out police patrols for security purposes, fixing the roads that had
been damaged by the lava and supporting the citizens with food and water
● The CCCM working group has assessed multi sectoral needs of those returning to
Goma, and have helped shelter over 21,133 displaced people in 13 communal
buildings (11 schools and 2 churches)
- after the reopening of schools on 14 June households have to move outside
during the school day which is not ideal
2. ‘The impacts on lives and property from volcanoes are greater than those from
earthquakes.’ How far do you agree with this view? [20]
For:
● Mt. Pinatubo (Philippines) eruption on June 15 1991 had a VEI 6, ash plume higher
than 40 km and ejected more than 10 km 3of magma
● Over 8000 houses were destroyed and a further 73000 were damaged
, ● The ash fallout led to 847 deaths due to roof collapse
● Exposure to ash in areas which have experienced volcanic eruptions have
exacerbated respiratory problems especially in those people with pre-existing
respiratory problems
● The eruptions of Soufrière Hills (Montserrat) in 1997 produced chemical
contamination of rain water and surface water
- Highly acidic water with high concentrations of sulphates, chloride and
fluorides
● Positive impacts: 30% of the Aeta population (hardest hit by the eruption) has socially
and economically benefited from the tourism - caused by the ecotourism “Kabuhayan
sa turismo” project - providing many with jobs
● Fertile soil
Against:
● The 2011 Tohoku earthquake of magnitude 9.0 struck east of Sendai (Japan) on 11
March 2011, 97 km north of nuclear power plant Fukushima
● It triggered a tsunami which killed over 18000 and forced over 150000 to evacuate as
the Fukushima nuclear power plant was hit by a wave, flooding the reactors and
causing radiation to leak
● Half a million had to evacuate overall due to the earthquake, the tsunami and the
nuclear disaster
● Chemical explosions from the plant damaged buildings - overall over a million
buildings were destroyed or partly collapsed
● The Fukushima Disaster is classified a level 7 event by the International Atomic
Energy Agency, the highest event and 2nd disaster to meet this classification after
Chernobyl
● 10s of 1000s of workers will be needed over the next 30-40 yrs to remove the
destruction, nuclear waste and radioactive water
3. ‘Earthquakes are more difficult to predict, but easier to prepare for, than
volcanic eruptions.’ How far do you agree with this view? [20]
Earthquakes are harder to predict
For:
● Date, time, magnitude and location need to be predicted
- Earthquake predictions are deemed accurate if they are 30 years close to the
actual date of the earthquake
● The 2009 L’Aquila earthquake of magnitude 6.3 killed 309 people
- There was some micro-earthquake activity beforehand but this was not
enough to predict the earthquake
● So far in history there have been no earthquakes that have been predicted
completely accurately (unless within 30 years counts as accurate)
Against:
● Geoscientists forecasted an earthquake of magnitude 7.7-7.8 in Costa Rica around
2000 - In September 2012 a 7.6 earthquake occurred there
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