nepal earthquake 2015 case study bbc bitesize

Earthquakes and tsunami – WJEC Case study: Nepal 2015 (LMIC)

Earthquakes are caused by the release of built-up pressure at plate boundaries. They can destroy buildings and infrastructure. Tsunami can also occur, with equally devastating and deadly effects.

Part of Geography Tectonic landscapes and hazards

Case study: Nepal 2015 (LMIC)

The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing approximately 20 people. This made April 25 2015 the deadliest day on the mountain in history. The earthquake triggered another huge avalanche in the Langtang valley, where 250 people were killed.

Nepal Earthquake 2015

A case study of an earthquake in a low income country (LIC).

Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, is a low-income country. Nepal is located between China and India in Asia along the Himalayan Mountains.

A map to show the location of Nepal in Asia

What caused the Nepal Earthquake?

The earthquake occurred on a  collision plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

What were the impacts of the Nepal earthquake?

Infrastructure.

• Centuries-old buildings were destroyed at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, including some at the Changu Narayan Temple and the Dharahara Tower.
• Thousands of houses were destroyed across many districts of the country.

Social and economic

• Eight thousand six hundred thirty-two dead and 19,009 injured.
• It was the worst earthquake in Nepal in more than 80 years.
• People chose to sleep outside in cold temperatures due to the risk of aftershocks causing damaged buildings to collapse.
• Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless, with entire villages flattened.
• Harvests were reduced or lost that season.
• Economic losses were estimated to be between nine per cent to 50 per cent of GDP by The United States Geological Survey (USGS).
• Tourism is a significant source of revenue in Nepal, and the earthquake led to a sharp drop in the number of visitors.
• An avalanche killed at least 17 people at the Mount Everest Base Camp.
• Many landslides occurred along steep valleys. For example, 250 people were killed when the village of Ghodatabela was covered in material.

What were the primary effects of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal?

The primary effects of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal include:

• Nine thousand people died, and 19,000 people were injured – over 8 million people were affected.
• Three million people were made homeless.
• Electricity and water supplies, along with communications, were affected.
• 1.4 million people needed support with access to water, food and shelter in the days and weeks after the earthquake
• Seven thousand schools were destroyed.
• Hospitals were overwhelmed.
• As aid arrived, the international airport became congested.
• 50% of shops were destroyed, affecting supplies of food and people’s livelihoods.
• The cost of the earthquake was estimated to be US$5 billion.

What were the secondary effects of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal?

The secondary effects of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal include:

• Avalanches and landslides were triggered by the quake, blocking rocks and hampering the relief effort.
• At least nineteen people lost their lives on Mount Everest due to avalanches.
• Two hundred fifty people were missing in the Langtang region due to an avalanche.
• The Kali Gandaki River was blocked by a landslide leading many people to be evacuated due to the increased risk of flooding.
• Tourism employment and income declined.
• Rice seed ruined, causing food shortage and income loss.

What were the immediate responses to the Nepal earthquake?

• India and China provided over $1 billion of international aid .
• Over 100 search and rescue responders, medics and disaster and rescue experts were provided by The UK, along with three Chinook helicopters for use by the Nepali government.
• The GIS tool “Crisis mapping” was used to coordinate the response.
• Aid workers from charities such as the Red Cross came to help.
• Temporary housing was provided, including a ‘Tent city’ in Kathmandu.
• Search and rescue teams, and water and medical support arrived quickly from China, the UK and India.
• Half a million tents were provided to shelter the homeless.
• Helicopters rescued people caught in avalanches on Mount Everest and delivered aid to villages cut off by landslides.
• Field hospitals were set up to take pressure off hospitals.
• Three hundred thousand people migrated from Kathmandu to seek shelter and support from friends and family.
• Facebook launched a safety feature for users to indicate they were safe.

What were the long-term responses to the Nepal earthquake?

• A $3 million grant was provided by The Asian Development Bank (ADB) for immediate relief efforts and up to $200 million for the first phase of rehabilitation.
• Many countries donated aid. £73 million was donated by the UK (£23 million by the government and £50 million by the public). In addition to this, the UK provided 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid and eight tonnes of equipment.
• Landslides were cleared, and roads were repaired.
• Lakes that formed behind rivers damned by landslides were drained to avoid flooding.
• Stricter building codes were introduced.
• Thousands of homeless people were rehoused, and damaged homes were repaired.
• Over 7000 schools were rebuilt.
• Repairs were made to Everest base camp and trekking routes – by August 2015, new routes were established, and the government reopened the mountain to tourists.
• A blockade at the Indian border was cleared in late 2015, allowing better movement of fuels, medicines and construction materials.

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Earthquake Case Study: Nepal 2015

The nepal earthquake in 2015.

A shallow focus earthquake of magnitude 7.8 affected Nepal in April 2015.

• Foreign aid was needed to support recovery.
• The effects were more severe because many people lived in poor quality housing.
• The earthquake was caused by the collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates.

Primary effects

• 9,000 people were killed.
• There was US$5 billion of damage.

Secondary effects

• Flooding and damage to roads from landslides.
• An avalanche on Mount Everest which killed 19 people.

Responses to the earthquake

• Overseas aid from NGOs (non-governmental organisations) such as Oxfam.
• 300,000 people left the capital city (Kathmandu).
• An international conference to appeal for funding.

1 The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1 Natural Hazards

1.1.1 Types of Natural Hazards

1.1.2 Hazard Risk

1.1.3 Consequences of Natural Hazards

1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Natural Hazards

1.1.5 Exam-Style Questions - Natural Hazards

1.2 Tectonic Hazards

1.2.1 Tectonic Plates

1.2.2 Tectonic Plates & Convection Currents

1.2.3 Plate Margins

1.2.4 Volcanoes

1.2.5 Effects of Volcanoes

1.2.6 Responses to Volcanic Eruptions

1.2.7 Earthquakes

1.2.8 Earthquakes 2

1.2.9 Responses to Earthquakes

1.2.10 Case Studies: The L'Aquila & Kashmir Earthquakes

1.2.11 Earthquake Case Study: Chile 2010

1.2.12 Earthquake Case Study: Nepal 2015

1.2.13 Living with Tectonic Hazards 1

1.2.14 Living with Tectonic Hazards 2

1.2.15 End of Topic Test - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.16 Exam-Style Questions - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.17 Tectonic Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.3 Weather Hazards

1.3.1 Global Atmospheric Circulation

1.3.2 Surface Winds

1.3.3 UK Weather Hazards

1.3.4 Tropical Storms

1.3.5 Features of Tropical Storms

1.3.6 Impact of Tropical Storms 1

1.3.7 Impact of Tropical Storms 2

1.3.8 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9 Tropical Storms Case Study: Haiyan

1.3.10 UK Weather Hazards Case Study: Somerset 2014

1.3.11 End of Topic Test - Weather Hazards

1.3.12 Exam-Style Questions - Weather Hazards

1.3.13 Weather Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.4 Climate Change

1.4.1 Evidence for Climate Change

1.4.2 Causes of Climate Change

1.4.3 Effects of Climate Change

1.4.4 Managing Climate Change

1.4.5 End of Topic Test - Climate Change

1.4.6 Exam-Style Questions - Climate Change

1.4.7 Climate Change - Statistical Skills

2 The Living World

2.1 Ecosystems

2.1.1 Ecosystems

2.1.2 Ecosystem Cascades & Global Ecosystems

2.1.3 Ecosystem Case Study: Freshwater Ponds

2.2 Tropical Rainforests

2.2.1 Tropical Rainforests - Intro & Interdependence

2.2.2 Adaptations

2.2.3 Biodiversity of Tropical Rainforests

2.2.4 Deforestation

2.2.5 Case Study: Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

2.2.6 Sustainable Management of Rainforests

2.2.7 Case Study: Malaysian Rainforest

2.2.8 End of Topic Test - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.9 Exam-Style Questions - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.10 Deforestation - Statistical Skills

2.3 Hot Deserts

2.3.1 Overview of Hot Deserts

2.3.2 Biodiversity & Adaptation to Hot Deserts

2.3.3 Case Study: Sahara Desert

2.3.4 Desertification

2.3.5 Case Study: Thar Desert

2.3.6 End of Topic Test - Hot Deserts

2.3.7 Exam-Style Questions - Hot Deserts

2.4 Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.1 Overview of Cold Environments

2.4.2 Adaptations in Cold Environments

2.4.3 Biodiversity in Cold Environments

2.4.4 Case Study: Alaska

2.4.5 Sustainable Management

2.4.6 Case Study: Svalbard

2.4.7 End of Topic Test - Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.8 Exam-Style Questions - Cold Environments

3 Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.1.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.2 Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.1 Types of Wave

3.2.2 Weathering & Mass Movement

3.2.3 Processes of Erosion & Wave-Cut Platforms

3.2.4 Headlands, Bays, Caves, Arches & Stacks

3.2.5 Transportation

3.2.6 Deposition

3.2.7 Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

3.2.8 Case Study: Landforms on the Dorset Coast

3.2.9 Types of Coastal Management 1

3.2.10 Types of Coastal Management 2

3.2.11 Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness

3.2.12 Coastal Management Case Study: Swanage

3.2.13 Coastal Management Case Study - Lyme Regis

3.2.14 End of Topic Test - Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.15 Exam-Style Questions - Coasts

3.3 River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.1 The River Valley

3.3.2 River Valley Case Study - River Tees

3.3.3 Erosion

3.3.4 Transportation & Deposition

3.3.5 Waterfalls, Gorges & Interlocking Spurs

3.3.6 Meanders & Oxbow Lakes

3.3.7 Floodplains & Levees

3.3.8 Estuaries

3.3.9 Case Study: The River Clyde

3.3.10 River Management

3.3.11 Hard & Soft Flood Defences

3.3.12 River Management Case Study - Boscastle

3.3.13 River Management Case Study - Banbury

3.3.14 End of Topic Test - River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.15 Exam-Style Questions - Rivers

3.4 Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.1 Erosion

3.4.2 Landforms Caused by Erosion

3.4.3 Landforms Caused by Transportation & Deposition

3.4.4 Snowdonia

3.4.5 Land Use in Glaciated Areas

3.4.6 Tourism in Glacial Landscapes

3.4.7 Case Study - Lake District

3.4.8 End of Topic Test - Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.9 Exam-Style Questions - Glacial Landscapes

4 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.1 Urbanisation

4.1.2 Urbanisation Case Study: Lagos

4.1.3 Urbanisation Case Study: Rio de Janeiro

4.1.4 UK Cities

4.1.5 Case Study: Urban Regen Projects - Manchester

4.1.6 Case Study: Urban Change in Liverpool

4.1.7 Case Study: Urban Change in Bristol

4.1.8 Sustainable Urban Life

4.1.9 End of Topic Test - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.10 Exam-Style Questions - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.11 Urban Issues -Statistical Skills

5 The Changing Economic World

5.1 The Changing Economic World

5.1.1 Measuring Development

5.1.2 Classifying Countries Based on Wealth

5.1.3 The Demographic Transition Model

5.1.4 Physical & Historical Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.5 Economic Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.6 How Can We Reduce the Global Development Gap?

5.1.7 Case Study: Tourism in Kenya

5.1.8 Case Study: Tourism in Jamaica

5.1.9 Case Study: Economic Development in India

5.1.10 Case Study: Aid & Development in India

5.1.11 Case Study: Economic Development in Nigeria

5.1.12 Case Study: Aid & Development in Nigeria

5.1.13 Economic Development in the UK

5.1.14 Economic Development UK: Industry & Rural

5.1.15 Economic Development UK: Transport & North-South

5.1.16 Economic Development UK: Regional & Global

5.1.17 End of Topic Test - The Changing Economic World

5.1.18 Exam-Style Questions - The Changing Economic World

5.1.19 Changing Economic World - Statistical Skills

6 The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1 Resource Management

6.1.1 Global Distribution of Resources

6.1.2 Food in the UK

6.1.3 Water in the UK 1

6.1.4 Water in the UK 2

6.1.5 Energy in the UK

6.1.6 Resource Management - Statistical Skills

6.2.1 Areas of Food Surplus & Food Deficit

6.2.2 Food Supply & Food Insecurity

6.2.3 Increasing Food Supply

6.2.4 Case Study: Thanet Earth

6.2.5 Creating a Sustainable Food Supply

6.2.6 Case Study: Agroforestry in Mali

6.2.7 End of Topic Test - Food

6.2.8 Exam-Style Questions - Food

6.2.9 Food - Statistical Skills

6.3.1 The Global Demand for Water

6.3.2 What Affects the Availability of Water?

6.3.3 Increasing Water Supplies

6.3.4 Case Study: Water Transfer in China

6.3.5 Sustainable Water Supply

6.3.6 Case Study: Kenya's Sand Dams

6.3.7 Case Study: Lesotho Highland Water Project

6.3.8 Case Study: Wakel River Basin Project

6.3.9 Exam-Style Questions - Water

6.3.10 Water - Statistical Skills

6.4.1 Global Demand for Energy

6.4.2 Factors Affecting Energy Supply

6.4.3 Increasing Energy Supply: Renewables

6.4.4 Increasing Energy Supply: Non-Renewables

6.4.5 Carbon Footprints & Energy Conservation

6.4.6 Case Study: Rice Husks in Bihar

6.4.7 Exam-Style Questions - Energy

6.4.8 Energy - Statistical Skills

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Earthquake Case Study: Chile 2010

Living with Tectonic Hazards 1

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2015 Nepal Earthquake

In the early hours of 25 April, 2015 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred in Nepal, the biggest earthquake in over 80 years. The earthquake occurred due to thrust faulting resulting from the subducting India plate and the overriding Eurasia plate to the North. The earthquake occurred approximately 80km to the northwest of the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu in an area where the India plate is converging with the Eurasia plate at a rate of 45 mm/yr towards the north-northeast, driving the uplift between the India and Eurasia plates. Recent research suggests that this part of the plate boundary may have been building up strain since 1344 .

The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.7 earthquake on 26 April which triggered more avalanches on Everest. The latest and largest aftershock struck at 07:05 local time on the morning of the 12 May with an epicentre to the South-East of Kathmandu. This aftershock had a magnitude of 7.3 and occurred as a result of thrust faulting on or near the décollement associated with the Main Himalayan Thrust. The event was felt across Nepal, Northern India and Bangladesh.

The earthquake has devastated many areas of this Himalayan country where towns and villages have been cut off by the severe damage left by the earthquake including avalanches and landslides. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) at the time of writing (29 April) the earthquake has claimed more than 5,000 lives and left more than 8,000 people injured and over 8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.  

This page lists some resources which Fellows and members of the public may find useful to understand the geological context in which the earthquake occurred, the history of tectonics in this region and resources on earthquakes more generally.

Nepal Earthquake and Seismic Hazards in the Himalaya

USGS have put together some information on their website detailing when and where the earthquake occurred and the tectonic setting with some useful maps and diagrams.

• 25 April Nepal Earthquake summary
• Poster of the 25 April Nepal Earthquake
• 12 May Magnitude 7.3 aftershock

The British Geological Survey  page on the 12 May aftershock:

• BGS Nepal earthquake summary

Mapaction have produced a map of the earthquake and larger aftershocks, showing the priority affected districts as designated by the government of Nepal.

• Download the map from the ReliefWeb website

Historical earthquakes

• Read a BBC article on the research
• Explore maps and cross-sections at the Earth Observatory of Singapore website (starts halfway down the page)

Landslide hazards

Earthquakes without Frontiers  (British Geological Survey / Durham University) are working with NASA and US Geological Survey's Volunteer Earthquake Response Team, using satellite imagery to map landslides in Nepal and assess landslide hazard following the earthquake. This is being updated following the 12 May aftershock, which occurred directly beneath the area that suffered the largest impacts from landsliding in the original earthquake. 

They found that despite several large valley-blocking landslides, some of which have dammed rivers with the risk of catastrophic flooding if they breach, the greatest local impact and loss of life was due to large numbers of small landslides.The scientists also predicted that many more damaging landslides than usual may occur when the 2015 monsoon begins in June, and the need to plan for mitigation measures must remain a priority.

• Read updates on landscape hazards at the Earthquakes Without Frontiers blog
• More on the international efforts and preliminary hazard report

Earthquake Engineering

The Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation team SARAID (Search And Rescue Assistance In Disasters) deployed a team to Nepal including two engineers. The team coordinated and conducted searches for live victims trapped in collapsed buildings, and two engineers from the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) conducted structural assessments of key buildings.

• Read more on the EEFIT blog

Himalaya Tectonics

As part of GSL's 2014 conference on Sustainable Resource Development in the Himalaya, Tim Wright of the University of Leeds gave a lecture on 'Active Deformation and Seismic Hazard in the India-Asia collision zone' which includes some background on the tectonics of this region. You can find his presentation on the GSL website .

Earthquakes - General Resources

Geological society web resources.

• Earthquakes: prediction, forecasting and mitigation 
• Geology for Society - Geohazards resource page
• Earthquakes Education Factsheet

Geological Society Lectures and Podcasts

London lectures.

• When Continents Collide: Active Deformation and Seismic Hazard - Tim Wright, University of Leeds  

• Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the Modern World  - James Jackson, University of Cambridge
• When the Shaking Stops: Effects of Large Earthquakes - Alex Densmore, University of Durham 
• When Continents Collide - Tim Wright, University of Leeds
• Million Death Quake - Roger Musson, British Geological Survey
• Geological Hazards - home and away - Ian Main, University of Edinburgh and Martin Culshaw, British Geological Survey 
• Ground Shaking Research - Richard Sibson, University of Otago

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Based around a children’s book about the earthquake, this project aims to raise money to support people who are rebuilding their lives following the quake.

This selection of papers published by the Geological Society provides an introduction to contrasting tectonic process responsible for mountain building in the northwestern and central-eastern Himalaya. 

Some papers deal with linkages between tectonics & earthquake activity.

Free resources from the Geological Society and other organisations, aimed at students, teachers and anyone else interested in the Earth.

Earthquake Case Studies

Find out more about recent earthquakes:

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Nepal Case study

The Nepal Earthquake of 25th April, 2015

At the time of the earthquake Nepal was one of the poorest countries in the world, with a HDI of 0.556 (2015) (218th in the world) and a GNI of $2,660 per annum, a lower middle income country.

Nepal is also a Least Developed Country, as recognised by the UN. Much of the population in this region live in houses that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking: unreinforced brick masonry and the like. ( Source )

• The earthquake occurred at 11:26 (local time) on Saturday the 25th of April
• Estimated at 7.8 to 7.9 on the Richter scale.
• Aftershocks followed, one at 6.7 on Sunday the 26th of April
• On 12 May 2015 at 12:35 another massive aftershock occurred with a moment magnitude of 7.3. The epicenter was near the Chinese border between the capital of Kathmandu and Mt. Everest. More than 200 people were killed and more than 2,500 were injured by this aftershock

The earthquake was approximately 80 km to the northwest of the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu. The Indian plate is converging (colliding) with Eurasia at a rate of 45 mm/yr towards the north-northeast, driving the uplift of the Himalayan mountain range. The India plate is subducting under the overriding Eurasian plate. The earthquake occurred as the result of this movement thrusting through a fault running off the plate margin. Where the plates meet strain energy builds up which, when released, violently shakes the ground with its seismic energy. The earthquake's effects were amplified in Kathmandu as it sits on the Kathmandu Basin, which contains up to 600 m of sedimentary rocks, representing the infilling of a lake.

Primary effects

• 8,632 dead (Official death toll)
• 19,009 injured (Official)
• Worst earthquake in Nepal in more than 80 years
• Centuries-old buildings were destroyed at UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, including some at the Changu Narayan Temple and the Dharahara Tower.
• Thousands of houses were destroyed across many districts of the country
• Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless with entire villages flattened
• 1.7 million children had been driven out into the open

Secondary effects

• Harvests reduced or lost this season
• U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated economic losses at 9 percent to 50 percent of gross domestic product, with a best guess of 35 percent.
• The steep valleys of the area suffered many landslides, the village of Ghodatabela was covered killing 250 people
• The earthquake triggered avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 17 people. Estimates put the number of trekkers and climbers at base camp at the time of the quake at up to 1000
• Estimates of damage put at $10billion by Nepalese government
• The earthquake massively reduced tourism over the long term, a key industry for this mountain kingdom

• Tent cities sprung up in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal
• Responses were criticised as slow - the hardest hit Gorkha-Lamjung epicentre area was visited by helicopter the day after the earthquake and hundreds were feared dead in this area
• 90 percent of soldiers from the Nepalese army mobilised to worst hit areas, but efforts were hampered by landslides and damaged infrastructure
• On May 1st international aid agencies like Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and the Red Cross were able to start medically evacuating the critically wounded by helicopter from outlying areas.
• GIS tool “Crisis mapping” was used to coordinate the response
• Surgeons and inflatable hospitals were used ( source )
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a USD$3 million grant to Nepal for immediate relief efforts; and up to USD$200 million for the first phase of rehabilitation.
• Aid was donated by a huge number of countries. The UK gave £73 million, of which £23 million was donated by the government and £50 million was donated by the public. The UK also provided 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid and 8 tonnes of equipment. Finally, the UK offered expert help by sending around 100 search and rescue responders, medical experts, and disaster and rescue experts deployed by the Department for International Development; engineers from the British Army's Brigade of Ghurkhas (ironically, Nepalese soldiers working in the British Army); three Chinook helicopters (returned unused by the Nepali government). 
• International aid was provided by India and China who in total committed over $1 billion to help support Nepal.
• A new government taskforce was created to help deal with future earthquakes.
• People are now being educated across Nepal to do earthquake drills.
• Two years after the quake, only about 28,000 (3.4%) of those homes and buildings that qualified to receive government assistance for reconstruction – had been rebuilt. A year later, about 113,000 (13.7% of the total) were rebuilt.

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Case Study – Earthquake, Nepal 2015

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1 . Question

Which of the following is a correct term used to describe the effects following an earthquakes?

• Secondary effects.
• Seasonal effects.
• Special effects.
• Scholastic effects.

2 . Question

Following an earthquake how many different levels of responses are there?

3 . Question

Are earthquakes in Nepal a fairly common occurrence?

• Dependant on the season.

4 . Question

What type of response to an earthquake is ‘search and rescue’ ?

• International.

5 . Question

What type of response to an earthquake is ‘reconstruction’ ?

• Industrial.

6 . Question

Following the earthquake. A blockade by which neighbouring country badly affected supplies entering Nepal?

7 . Question

Th earthquake was very shallow. At what depth below the surface did the 2015 earthquake occur?

8 . Question

What is the range of mountains that have been formed by the Indo-Australian plate constantly colliding with the Eurasian plate?

9 . Question

At what rate is the Indo-Australian plate colliding with the Eurasian Plate each year?

10 . Question

What is one of the main purposes of a long-term response to an earthquake?

• Reducing future risk.
• Increasing future risk.
• Increasing broadband speed.
• Increasing industrial output.

11 . Question

What is one of the main purposes of an immediate response to an earthquake?

• Keeping survivors alive.
• Enforce stricter building controls.
• Increasing tourism opportunities.
• Increasing future job opportunities.

12 . Question

Which of the following correctly describes one of the two types of responses to an earthquake?

• Short term.

13 . Question

Which of the following is NOT a primary effect that occurred following the Nepalese earthquake?

• Avalanches.
• 3 million people left homeless.
• 9,000 people died.
• Loss of power, water and communications.

14 . Question

Which of the following is NOT a secondary effect that occurred following the Nepalese earthquake?

• 7,000 schools destroyed.
• Landslides.

15 . Question

What was the magnitude on the Richter scale of the Nepalese earthquake?

16 . Question

Scientists have identified a pattern of large earthquakes in the Nepalese region. How often do these occur?

17 . Question

At what type of tectonic plate did the Nepalese 2015 earthquake occur?

• Destructive.
• Conservative.
• Constructive.
• Obstructive.

18 . Question

Why did the Nepalese earthquake not cause a tsunami?

• Because it happened on land.
• It did cause a tsunami.
• Because it happened at sea.
• Because it happened in the Summer season.

19 . Question

What is the term used to describe smaller earthquakes that occur after the main earthquake?

• Aftershocks.
• Short sharp shocks.
• Autoshocks.
• Antishocks.

20 . Question

What is the central point of an earthquake called?

• Global centre.
• Regional centre.

21 . Question

What are the primary effects from an earthquake caused by?

• Ground shaking.
• Subduction.

22 . Question

Which of the following is NOT a secondary effect from an earthquake?

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