Plate motion is very frequent and strong in Japan. This plate motion may have very dangerous repercussions, including earthquakes and volcanoes. The pure amount of these disasters that occur in Japan force the people to learn earthquake and volcano safety. Schools and workplaces constantly give earthquake and volcano drills, so people in Japan usually move quickly and efficiently when an earthquake or volcano occurs. However, sometimes a mega-volcano or mega-earthquake occurs. These mega-disasters devastate the nation, causing fear and chaos. When these disasters occur, the entire country of Japan, and maybe even the world, are in danger.
Why do these massive natural disasters occur? They are caused by plate motion. Volcanoes are caused by subduction. Subduction is the movement of a tectonic plate under a less dense tectonic plate. The more dense plate moves towards the earth's core, which in turn heats up the rock. This rock heats up until it melts. This molten rock material pushes its way up to the earth's surface under extreme pressure, where it then explodes violently.9 Subduction occurs in 3 locations on or very close to Japan, which causes many volcanoes to form. Earthquakes are caused by faults. A fault is a break in tectonic plates, in which plates on either side move past each other. Faults can range anywhere from 2 feet long to the size of an entire city. As plates grind up against each other at these faults, the plates eventually get stuck. The plates get stuck because they have rough, uneven edges. Even after the plates get stuck, they still continue to move against each other. After an intense period of time, the plates quickly unstick. This rapid movement of the plates as they unstick causes an earthquake. The longer the plates are stuck, the stronger the earthquake.7 Japanese people are greatly affected by earthquakes and volcanoes. Although Japan is a relatively small country in size, it houses approximately 118 active volcanoes, more than any other country in the world.8 Due to the sheer amount of active volcanoes in Japan, eruptions are very common. Eruptions, such as the recent Mount Kirishima eruption, spew lava and pyroclastic material. Among this pyroclastic material is ash. Ash is the main killer during a volcanic eruption. This ash blankets entire cities and can even block out the sun. People must use protective face wear and should avoid being outside for long periods of time. If people do not follow these directions, ash could easily enter their lungs, slowly and painfully killing them.4
Earthquakes also greatly affect people in Japan. The violent shaking of the ground frightens livestock and can destroy non-retrofitted buildings. This could lead to a fall in the Japanese economy. Another effect Japanese earthquakes cause could affect people all over the world. During the extremely destructive Tohoku earthquake in 2011, the outer housing of two nuclear reactors exploded, leaking vast amounts of nuclear radiation. This radiation spread out into the air. Global winds are currently moving this radioactive cloud all over the globe. Horrifying effects from this radioactive cloud could possibly include cancer, mutation, and loss of skin. People in Japan cannot live within 5 miles of this abandoned power plant, and some people wear masks whenever they walk outside. This disaster might greatly affect peoples' way of life in the whole world, not just Japan. Not only did the Tohoku earthquake cause radiation leaks, it also caused a massive tsunami. Most large earthquakes in Japan cause these monster waves. The tsunami resulting from the Tohoku earthquake killed many people and destroyed homes and businesses on the Japanese coast. Many negative effects of earthquakes and volcanoes greatly affect the resilient Japanese people. Giant earthquakes and volcanoes are nothing new to the island of Japan. In the past, many disasters have devastated the country. Some major earthquakes that have hit Japan in the past are the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which claimed nearly 150,000 lives, the 1854 Great NankaidÅ earthquake, and the recent Tohoku earthquake.6 One of the many volcanic eruptions in Japan was the Mount Unzen explosion, which killed around 15,000 people.5 These disasters are such a common thing in Japan that you can see them reflected in Japanese culture. Famous Japanese paintings such as the Great Wave of Kanagawa and the iconic Mount Fuji paintings
Mount Kirishima Erupting
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