HIG 214: Physical Geography Assignments #1

The earth that we live on have both advantages and disadvantages because of the some physical and chemical
changes or process that usually taking place within and near the earth surface, however earthquake is one of the
end result of collision between two plates. An earthquake is the sudden shaking of earth surface as a result of
plate’s collision and other chemical and biological process that occurs beneath the ground, such as release of
energy in the lithosphere that create seismic wave and so forth. Here in this essay it will elaborate more on, why
is Japan so much at risk of earthquake annually and the cause of the earthquake.

Above is the map of japan

Japan is a developed island country that was located 300 km along the East Asia pacific coast.

However, Japan was confronting with earthquake for thousand times annually because of its location, though it
was located on the pacific ring of fire and it is along the pacific ocean where the active volcanoes and
earthquake were frequent, although Japan was located at where the pacific ring of fire is, therefore earthquake is
frequently occurring at the places that are located at the pacific ring of fire, the length of the pacific ring of fire
is 40,000 km (24 900 miles) long, it began at Brazil and runs through along the coast to the North America and
carve at North America then runs along the coast to the Australia and all the way to New Zealand and end.

The image above depict the area along the coast in which the pacific ring of fire is covered

Although, earthquake is the result of collision between two or more tectonic plate due to the geological fault
that take place beneath the earth surface. However, Japan is in risk of earthquake because of the collision of the
Nazca plate with Cocos plate moving westward and American plate to the south, Cocos plate is being sub-
ducted with Caribbean plate in Central America. The portion of pacific plate being sub-ducted with small Juan
de Fuca plate beneath the North American plate. Pacific plate is being sub-ducted beneath the Aleutian Island s
arc and to the further west the pacific plate is being sub-ducted with Kamchatka Peninsula arc, however to the
further South portion of the pacific ring of fire is complex because, there were many smaller tectonic plate. This
tectonic plate movement causes the earthquake at Japan, because it is located in between the pacific ring of fire
where the earthquake is frequent.

The above picture shows the Tectonic Plates that collide to cause earthquake in Japan and other places near and
within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Hence, earthquake has devastate many lives and properties, as a result of two or more tectonic plate colliding
with each other, as the earth shake it shakes the ocean as well and the ocean also follow the direction in which
the earth is shaking as a tsunami and destroy anything in front of it regardless of living or non-living things.
However, in Japan the earthquake is frequent and does vast destruction annually, although on March 11, 2011
there was a huge earthquake associated with tsunami and move from Pacific Ocean towards the northeast coast
of Tohoku region of Japan and caused overwhelming damage to entire or three quarter of the lives and
properties at Tohoku region and it set or recorded in the history of Japan and it was recorded that the magnitude
of 9.0 and tsunami covers 200 square miles and waves were estimated to be as high as 38 meters, the height of a
12-story building. However, they were estimate that 20,000 people were dead or missing and 500,000 people
were force to leave. Though Japan has economically loss from this earthquake and tsunami and it was estimated
that the worth of $360 billion properties and it really affects the economy of Japan. Pictures below depict the
damaged cause by earthquake and tsunami.

Overwhelming damage cause by Earthquake and Tsunami (11/03/11). The time Tsunami takes to travel

To conclude, the location or places near and within the pacific ring of fire such as Japan and other places were
in risk of not only the earthquake but many other natural disaster as well due to geological fault between the
tectonic plates beneath the earth crust. Japan was located in between the pacific ring of fire therefore, it was
affected with many disaster but earthquake and tsunami is the main cause of overwhelming damaged in Japan.
However, the government of Japan and the people must be aware all the time for any forms of disasters because
there wouldn’t be any sign will be given especially earthquake.
 References

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake

 https://www.google.com/search?q=map+of+japan&source=lmns&bih=740&biw=1423&hl=en-
US&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnnoDGq8nrAhVjj-YKHTQaBXkQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire

 https://www.bing.com/images/search?
q=ring+of+fire&form=HDRSC2&first=1&scenario=ImageBasicHover&cw=1674&ch=900

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Destruction+cause+by+earthquake+in+Japan&source=lmns&hl=en-
GB&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEgZLTz8nrAhU9K7cAHZWiAqsQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA

 https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2011-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-facts

 https://www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Destruction+of+place+and+lives+by+earthquake+in+Japan&hl=en-
GB&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR_cyp08nrAhVIVH0KHWJdC2MQ_AUoAXoE
CA4QAw&biw=1282&bih=774