Mexico leaves Indigenous People in the Mud

Large amounts of rainfall produce weak slope faces, which can result in slope failures such as seen above. 

          Tropical Storm Manuel made landfall in late September but many rural villages of Mexico still are feeling the effects and devastation. Many forced from their homes that are now filled with feet of mud are living under tin roofs open to the elements. Since many of these villages are indigenous people, socioeconomic standing is virtually non-existent. With no way to fund efforts to recover from the storm, villagers make do with the higher ground available, a cemetery.

Makeshift homes of tin and plastic tarps were set up to shelter those who lost their homes and possessions.

          Recovery efforts were focused on wealthy, high traffic areas of the region leaving the smaller villages to rely on food and resources from nearby villages. Deprivation to indigenous people of Mexico is not a recent creation. For years, the Mexican government has ignored the more than 10% of its population. 30% of indigenous people are illiterate and nearly 90% have no access to medical care or even running water. This is without a disaster. In general, people of low socioeconomic status are more vulnerable to hazards due to the lack of these resources and commonly they are living in sub-par conditions. Sadly, the most attention given to these areas are when a disaster does occur, but more than media coverage is necessary to help these people.

     For more information visit:

          After landslides, poorest of poor left out in cold in Mexico

          Mexico Cleans Up from Deadly Manuel

Slippery Origins of 2011 Japan Tsunami

           

Resulting landscape from 2011 earthquake that sent 30ft tsunami crashing into the coast of Japan

          In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake was recorded 80 miles off the coast of Japan and 18.6 miles below the ocean floor. The sudden change in the ocean floor sent a series of waves with the largest at 33ft high crashing into the coast of Japan surging as far as 6 miles inland. Scientists now know the exact cause of the largest earthquake in the region on record and the culprit of regional disaster. The earthquake some 18 miles under the ocean floor was caused by a fault slip. A fault slip is the term used when one tectonic plate suddenly slides in relation to the other due to pressure build-up.

A fault slip occurs from a release of built up pressure at a plate boundary and results in a horizontal plate motion.

 

          The slip occurred in the Japan Trench at the boundary of the North American Plate (where Japan is located) and the Pacific Plate. Scientists report that the plate slid as much as 164 feet causing the surrounding water to swell creating the deadly tsunami. Typically slips are minor and don’t result in devastating tsunami; however, the geologic depositions of clay on the ocean floor allowed the fault to become slippery from saturation allowing such a large movement in the boundary to be possible.

 

     For more information please visit:

          2011 Japan Tsunami was Caused by Largest Fault Slip Ever Recorded

          Powerful Quake and Tsunami Devastate Northern Japan

 

How Forecasting Saved Lives

          When it comes to avoiding environmental disasters, technology plays an important role. The development of Doppler radar and other surveying techniques has allowed the field of Meteorology to blossom and become an important tool in saving lives. In the case of tornadoes, an individual’s adherence and seriousness to watches and warnings are key in preventing injuries. Improved technology has allowed tornado “watches” to be issued for those areas that may be in the direct path of a tornado that has yet to form. 

Tornadoes are unpredictable due to drafts and wind patterns. Early warnings can be difficult but extremely important if near densely populated areas.

           Due to the unpredictability of tornadoes, however, these “watches” are often discarded and forgotten. A watch could then develop into a warning if an actually tornado is spotted on or near the ground. This is when people respond but depending on the characteristics of the tornado, the time it takes to take cover may be too long. In an area such as the Midwest and plains of the US that experience frequent tornadoes, early warning systems are most important to help alert large populated areas to prepare for the storm. As technology advances, so do these detection systems; however, it is up to the people to heed the warnings and take appropriate action.

           For the full article visit: How Improved Tornado Forecasting Saved Lives in the Midwest