7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Mexico

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Watch the video below and reflect on the following:
When did the earthquake occur?
Where are the areas affected?
What was the magnitude of the earthquake and how does this affect the extent of damage in Mexico?
How does the geology of Mexico city affect the extent of damage?
Why did the people have evacuation drills before the earthquake? *1985 earthquake
What are the responses immediately after the earthquake? (short-term responses)



 Aftershocks are expected - will there be greater destruction?


Do take note of the following when you evaluate the factors which affect the extent of damage as shown by the map above.
1. Proximity to epicentre - Which city is nearest to the epicentre? Why do areas closer to the epicentre experience greater damage and deaths?
2. Magnitude of the earthquake - What is the magnitude of the earthquake? Why does earthquake of higher magnitude results in greater damage and deaths?
3. Depth of focus - What is the depth of the focus? Is it shallow or deep? Why does a shallow-focus earthquake results in greater damage and deaths?
4. Population Density - Which city has a higher population density (no. of people living on a unit area)? Why do cities with high population density experience greater damage and deaths?

From the earlier videos:
5. Geology  - Mexico city is built on soft volcanic soil and clay.  Why would the geology of the area affects the extent of damage and deaths? What is liquefaction?
6. Time of occurence - The earthquake occured at 1.15pm (local time). How would this affect the extent of damage and deaths?
7. Level of preparedness - Just hours before the earthquake, many people went through an evacuation drill as it is the anniversary of a major earthquake which struck Mexico on 19 Seppt 1985. How does higher level of preparedness reduce the extent of damage and deaths?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41327593
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41337467

Find out more about the earthquake:
http://www.straitstimes.com/world/americas/mexico-city-shaken-by-strong-quake
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/at-least-100-killed-as-powerful-quake-rocks-mexico-9232234

Read the following article on why Mexico is prone to earthquake
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/20/opinions/what-made-mexico-shake-vidale/index.html

You can read more about the 19 Sept 1985 Earthquake here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Mexico_City_earthquake


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Typhoon Talim hit Japan

Monday, September 18, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Another Typhoon - Talim  hit Japan  - compare this with the earlier posts on typhoon Haito as well as Hurricane Irma.

What are the impacts of the typhoon in Japan?


http://www.euronews.com/2017/09/17/typhoon-hits-japan-grounding-hundreds-of-flights

Has climate change leads to more extreme weather? Look at the number of typhoons from July to Sept 2017.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/c98dc39fffb401e0859aed1ae5abac58.png

Updates 20 Sept
Hurricanne Maria devastaing impact on the Carribean Islands.



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Hurricane Irma brought devastating impacts on the Carribean and Florida

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Impact of climate change? More frequent and intense storm?

Watch this video on the impacts of Irma and how mitigation was carried out.


Where are the areas affected by Hurricane Irma?
When did Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean islands and Florida?
Who are affected?
What are the impacts?
How does Hurricane Irma impact on food shortage on Saint Martin, France*?
What are the preparedness measures taken in Florida?
Why is preparedness measures important? 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/irma-live-updates-florida-power-outages-09-11-2017/
 *Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 300 km (190 mi) east of Puerto Rico. The is divided between the French Republic (France)  and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Watch the video below on the devatating impacts of Hurricane Irma.
Environmental, Social and Economic impacts.

 

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Hurricane Harvey brought catastrophic flooding in Houston Aug 2017

Tuesday, August 29, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

30,000 forced from their homes and 6 deaths from this catastrophic flooding in Houston brought by Hurricane Harvey.

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/28/harvey-may-force-30000-people-into-shelters-while-flooding-will-linger-officials-warn/?utm_term=.0bf403627229

Watch the video and reflect on:
Where are the regions commonly affected by Hurricanes?
What are the impacts of the hurricane?
Who are affected by the hurricane?
How can the impacts be mitigated?
How does it affect tourism?


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Typhoon Hato hits Hong Kong and Macau 23 Aug 2017

Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

The wrath of nature - Typhoon Hato hits HK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq9RJglbX98



For my Geography students: 
Where are the regions commonly affected by typhoons?
What are the impacts of typhoons?
Who are affected by typhoons?
How can we mitigate the impacts of typhoon?
How does it affect tourism?

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/typhoon-hato-batters-hong-kong--streets-flooded--flights-cancelled--trading-halted-9149534

 Update on 24 Aug .. more than 12 killed in the typhoon.

 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/typhoon-leaves-12-dead-after-lashing-macau--hong-kong-9152286

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How warning system help saved lives in China Sichuan Earthquake

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Abstract from “Vital Early Warnings Saved Lives in Jiuzhaigou Earthquake” Published on 15 Aug 2017

 https://reliefweb.int/report/china/vital-early-warnings-saved-lives-jiuzhaigou-earthquake

  A powerful magnitude 7 earthquake that struck China’s central Sichuan Province on 8 August 2017. A crucial factor which helped to save lives was the early warnings through broadcasting and mobile phone applications given to people well before the tremor struck. 

  According to Science and Technology Daily, people as far as 200 kilometres south of Jiuzhaigou, were given a 40-second warning of the impending danger, while people 95km from the epicentre in Longnan, Gansu province, received 19 vital seconds to prepare and rush to safety. 

  The early-warning system recognises the fast moving, but mostly harmless ‘P-waves’ created at the start of an earthquake. In its path, far more dangerous ‘S-waves’ follow. 

  “This technology may change the way we respond to earthquakes. It deserves to be studied closer,” says Gwendolyn Pang. “Yet early warning must go hand in hand with early action. People need to know what to do to protect themselves in times of emergencies.”

Looking ahead, the China Earthquake Administration plans to build 15,000 monitoring stations across the country by 2020, particularly in key areas such as Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces. So far, there has been about 2 billion yuan (US$300 million) invested in the early warning and quick intensity reporting program. 

  Reflect on the preparedness measure highlighted in the article.
 1.       How effective is earthquake monitoring and warning system in mitigating the impacts of earthquake?
 2.       How effective are the other preparedness measures such as land use regulations, emergency drills and earthquake resistant building design in mitigating the impacts of earthquakes?


China's early earthquake warning system gives people life-saving seconds to prepare.
 
Updated on 18 Jun 2019 

 A 6.0-magnitude quake rocked southwest China's Sichuan Province on 17 June 2019. Many communities and schools in Chengdu City heard the alarm of earthquake warning 61 seconds before the initial tremor struck. An early earthquake warning system gave people vital seconds to escape the danger. The system uses a method that gives the alert tens of seconds before the arrival of the seismic waves. While the exact timing of quakes can't yet be predicted, the early warning system allows people to take immediate action that could potentially save their lives. 


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Earthquake Sichuan, China 8 Aug 2017

Wednesday, August 09, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Thirteen people, including six tourists, were killed and 175 injured when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck a remote, mountainous part Sichuan in China's southwest on 8 August 2017. The earthquake hit a sparsely populated area 200km northwest of the city of Guangyuan at a depth of 10km. It was also close to the Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a tourist destination (UNESCO Site). A separate quake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck a remote part of China's far north-western region of Xinjiang, more than 2,000km away, on 9 Aug. 
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/earthquake-of-magnitude-66-strikes-in-central-china-usgs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAY14TJKU1o



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjV08jBI6uM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbbglbeoewE

Watch the videos and reflect on the following:
Where did the earthquake occur?
When did the earthquake occur?
Who are affected?
What are the impacts of the earthquake?
Why is there a  need for search and rescue to be carried out immediately?


How will this impact on tourism in Jiuzhaigou, China?

Read the following article on how the earthquake impact on tourism and the economy of the area.
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000689/tourism-dependent-jiuzhaigou-on-shaky-ground-after-earthquake

Read the article below and find out more  about preparedness such as early warning using technology can help to save lives. Compare the preparedness measures with the responses after the earthquake occured.
http://reliefweb.int/report/china/vital-early-warnings-saved-lives-jiuzhaigou-earthquake







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Deadliest volcanoes in history

Sunday, May 14, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Watch the video on the 5 deadliest volcanoes in history .

 When did the volcaonoes erupt?
Where are the volcanoes found?
Who are affected by the volcanic eruption?
Why does temperature fall after a volcanic eruption?
What cause volcanoes to be formed?
How do people respond to volcanic eruption?


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Vaccine against Malaria

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Read the article on the large-scale Vaccine against Malaria @ 
http://www.straitstimes.com/world/africa/first-large-scale-malaria-vaccine-trials-for-africa
Where will the vaccine against Malaria be carried out?
When will the vaccine against Malaria be carried out?
Who are the ones most affect by Malaria in Africa?
Why is there a need for the large-scale vaccine against Malaria?
What other preventive measures are carried out against the spread of Malaria?
How are the countries selected for the trial?


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Cyclone Debbie hit Australia

Monday, April 24, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Cyclone Debbie made landfall near Airlie Beach, Australia, on 28 March 2017. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Debbie

 Watch the video below on how the cyclone was formed:and developed and made landfall on Australia in 2017.


Read this article on "Cyclone Debbie: Why was aftermath deadlier than storm itself?"
 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39451323

 When did the cyclone Debbie hit Australia?
Where were the areas hit by the cyclone?
Who are the ones affected by the cyclone?
Why was the cyclone damaging?
What were the impacts of the cyclone? 
How did the people respond to the cyclone?
How did the cyclone develop as it moved towards the land?

 Watch the video clip below and reflect on the social and economic impacts of the cyclone.

Interesting video on how the cyclones are named:

http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/names.shtml




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Boosting tourism in Chinatown

Monday, April 10, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Check out the news article below on the latest effort by the STB to boost tourism in Chinatown.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/historical-figures-come-to-life-at-chinatown-to-give-visitors-an-interactive-experience


 When was the historical installation ready for use?
Where are the historical installations located?
Who are the historical installations meant for?
Why is there a need for the installations?
What are the possible impacts of the installations?
How can this encourage more visitors to Chinatown?

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Vertical farming

Thursday, March 02, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Singapore's first vertical farm. Watch the video and reflect on how technology can help in achieving food security in Singapore.

 Watch the video and reflect on the followings:
What is Vertical Farming?
When was Vertical Farming introduced in Singapore?
Where are vertical farming carried out?
Why is there a need for vertical farming?
Who can help in achieving food security in Singapore?
How can food security be achieved in Singapore?

In the global aspect, can vertical farms feed cities?
Watch this video clip on vertical farming in New Jersey.

Can this be the solution for negative environmental impacts of food production?

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Development of tourism - Little India

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Watch this video and reflect on the following questions:

 Where are the places shown in the video?
When was this video featured?
Who are involved?
What are the ways in which tourism are developed in Singapore?
Why is there a concern about the development of tourism in Little India?
How can tourism be sustained?


Watch another video from talking point on the same issue of sustainable tourism - http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/little-india-s-chaos-conservation-that-keeps-it-real/3438170.html

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Flooding in Southern Thailand

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 | Posted by lily_lee68@yahoo.com.sg

Watch the video and reflect on the followings:
What caused the flooding?
When did the flooding occur?
Where are the areas affected by the flood?
Who are affected?
Why was the flooding unusual at this time of the year?
How does flooding affects tourism?


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