Fukushima Earthquake Research Paper
On Friday March 11, 2011, at 2:46 pm a 9.1 magnitude shook the entire coast of Japan causing mass destruction and a deadly tsunami. Over 20,000 deaths, 2000 missing, and thousands of houses destroyed has been the direct effect of these two natural disasters. (1) To this day over 230,000 people haven’t returned to their old homes or villages. Japan faces these types natural disasters very often. In Japan Earthquakes and Tsunamis are very common. There is a tremor or mini earthquake in Japan every 5 minutes. There are over 2000 recorded earthquakes every year. The reason for this is Japan is located on three different tectonic plates: Eurasian plate, Pacific plate, and Philippine plate. Each time these tectonic plates shift, an earthquake
…show more content…
The unsafe amount of radiation throughout Japan and the Pacific has made it a major problem. Over 9 million cubic meters of nuclear waste are scattered over at least 113,000 locations across Fukushima and Japan. This nuclear and radioactive waste water goes as far as 240 km down from Fukushima in some parts of Tokyo. Drinking radioactive water can cause nausea, dizziness, central nervous system damage, and internal bleeding; which can all lead to death. (8) Also this nuclear waste was released into the ocean around Japan. This means that many fish and seafood in Japan is contaminated and unsafe to eat, therefore hurting the Japanese Fishing Industry. Lastly this nuclear waste is in the soil and crops of many places throughout Japan. This is because the flood waters would take this nuclear waste along with it and once the water would settle, the nuclear waste would be absorbed into the ground. (9) This has caused many mutations in animals and crops in Japan such as many different species of trees, butterflies, and worms. (10) Another big reason that the environment was affected was debris scattered all over and throughout Japan. Although the tsunami caused many problems economically and environmentally, it also helped develop new technology to help minimize damage in the next major natural disaster similar to the one that took place on March
The unsafe amount of radiation throughout Japan and the Pacific has made it a major problem. Over 9 million cubic meters of nuclear waste are scattered over at least 113,000 locations across Fukushima and Japan. This nuclear and radioactive waste water goes as far as 240 km down from Fukushima in some parts of Tokyo. Drinking radioactive water can cause nausea, dizziness, central nervous system damage, and internal bleeding; which can all lead to death. (8) Also this nuclear waste was released into the ocean around Japan. This means that many fish and seafood in Japan is contaminated and unsafe to eat, therefore hurting the Japanese Fishing Industry. Lastly this nuclear waste is in the soil and crops of many places throughout Japan. This is because the flood waters would take this nuclear waste along with it and once the water would settle, the nuclear waste would be absorbed into the ground. (9) This has caused many mutations in animals and crops in Japan such as many different species of trees, butterflies, and worms. (10) Another big reason that the environment was affected was debris scattered all over and throughout Japan. Although the tsunami caused many problems economically and environmentally, it also helped develop new technology to help minimize damage in the next major natural disaster similar to the one that took place on March