EARTHQUAKE ZONES
- APPROXIMATELY 90-95% earthquakes happen in narrow zones as seen above in the map
- People often live on tectonic plate lines because there are some benefits (even though they know the risks) of living in these areas.
- land is fertile, important for agriculture --> high standard of living
- Environmental Reasons- In the coastal lowlands - Coastal cool/ warm climate - Go to the beach areas are beautiful and people buy houses in exclusive areas eg Malibu California despite earthquake risk.
- Economic reasons- make a good living form mining eg. August 2008 North Eastern Province in China, moderate tremor at a coal mine killed six workers and injured 1. In Chile in 2007 earthquake measuring 7.7 hit an area were many copper mine were kill 2 injure 117. People still live and work there because they consider the risk is acceptable because they can make a good living from mining. Poverty in developing countries forces people --> build house earthquake prone zones.
- Turkey and Iceland popular Tourist and earthquake location--> many job created for locals
- Social reasons- people in middle income countries eg japan feel safe because since 1981 in Japan all building have to be earthquake proof. Rely on disaster plan in emergency --> tell them what to do. Chance of being affected is low.