Case Studies Natural Hazards GCSE (OCR B)

Natural Hazards




Japan Earthquake case study (MEDC)

Location of Japan: - Japan is situated in the Northern hemisphere, In Asia, East of China, around the ring of fire.
Location of the Earthquake: Nearest city to the epicenter was Sendai
When? 11th March 2011
Why? Japan is located on the east…

Natural Hazards




Haiti Earthquake case study (LEDC)

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti's GDP per person is only US$660

Location of Haiti: - Haiti is situated in the Western hemisphere, North of Venezuela, East of the North Atlantic
Sea, South of the Bahamas
Location of the…

Natural Hazards




Location of Iceland: -
Location of the Volcano: Eyjafjallajokull is the name of the volcano that erupted. It's situated in Southern Iceland
about 160km from the capital Reykjavik.
When? 15th April 2010
Why? Eyjafjallajokull lies on a constructive plate boundary known as the mid-Atlantic ridge. Between two
tectonic…

Natural Hazards




Hurricane Katrina- New Orleans case study (MEDC)

Natural Hazards




It was the third strongest recorded hurricane ever to make landfall on the USA, and the devastation it wrecked
was unbelievable.
Location New Orleans: - Western Hemisphere, South East USA, New Orleans, coast of Louisiana.
Location of the Hurricane: Western Hemisphere, USA, New Orleans, coast of Louisiana.
When?…

Natural Hazards




Location: - Eastern Hemisphere, Irrawaddy Delta Burma.
When? 2nd May 2008
Why?
Cost of Damage: around $4billion

Primary Impacts
More than 140,000 people were killed
450,000 houses were destroyed
1,700 schools destroyed
Crops were lost- over 40% of food stores were destroyed.
Costal habitats such as mangroves were…

Natural Hazards




In 2007 Australia was in grip of the worst drought on record. The drought began in 2002 and the worst affected
area was the Murray- Darling Basin (also known as Australia's food bowl)
Location: - Eastern Hemisphere, South East Australia, Murray darling basin, extending from Queensland to South…

Natural Hazards




When? 1960's and lasted until the early 1980's- the worst drought of the 20th century.
Causes
A massive drought that struck parts of Northern Africa in the 1970s and 80s may have been the result of
a natural climate cycle.
Up to now, many scientists thought the drought…