Chapter 15: Problem 1

Describe the impacts of the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan on March 11, 2011, on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants, and on the Japanese people.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 led to cooling system failures at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants, resulting in nuclear meltdowns and release of radioactive materials. This caused an evacuation of 154,000 Japanese residents, a significant psychological impact on survivors, economic loss, and widespread environmental damage.

Step by step solution

Understand the Natural Disaster

Initial point is understanding the earthquake and tsunami occurred on March 11, 2011. The earthquake, rated 9.0 in magnitude, was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan. It triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40.5 meters and moved inland as much as 10 km in some areas.

Impact on Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants

The earthquake and tsunami caused cooling system failures at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants which eventually led to three nuclear meltdowns and the release of radioactive materials. The nuclear disaster is the worst since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and is classified as a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

Impact on Japanese People

The impact on the Japanese people was immense. Apart from the immediate loss of life due to the earthquake and tsunami, an estimated 154,000 residents had been evacuated due to the nuclear leak. Additionally, there's also the psychological impact of the disaster on the survivors, the economic loss, and long-term environmental damage.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Describe the impacts of the earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan on March 11, 2011, on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants, and on the Japanese people.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understand the Natural Disaster

Impact on Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants

Impact on Japanese People

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Ecology Research

Physical Environment

Environmental Policy

Ecological Conservation

Pollution

Biological Resources

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.