Introduction:

You belong to an expert innovation group, specializing in Natural Hazards. The "Pacific Rim Countries" have asked you to prepare a presentation on the known causes, impacts and responses to a specific hazard.  An important part of the assignment is to design something that will prepare communities better to deal with these disasters, bearing in mind all your knowledge and expertise.

Volcanoes:

Group 1:           Philippines – Mt Pinatubo (May 1991)              

Group 2:           USA - Mt St Helens (1980)

Tsunamis:

Group 3:           Japan-Sendai 2011

Group 4:           Indonesia-Sumatra 2004

Earthquakes:

Group 5:           Ecuador - 2016

Group 6:           NZ – Christchurch 2011

Task:

1. Investigate the causes, impacts and responses to either one volcano, tsunami or earthquake from the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.
2. Prepare an interesting and informative PowerPoint presentation summarizing your research findings from a variety of resources.
3. Design a solution to assist the communities most affected by the hazard you have researched (this is part of the presentation).
4. Take notes during the presentations then write YOUR own written response.

Causes:

1. Investigate the natural causes of a volcanic eruption or tsunami

2. Map where these tend to occur in the Asia region

Impacts:

1. Describe the positive and negative impacts of a volcanic eruption or tsunami

2. Explain why these impacts are influenced by social and economic factors, for example, where people choose to live, poverty, and lack of infrastructure and resources to prepare and respond

Responses:

1. Research and evaluate current methods of prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

2. Design something that will prepare communities better to deal with these disasters

Solutions:

1. Design a solution to assist the local communities if this type of natural disaster strikes again.

Use general search terms to find more information books:

Britannnica Online is great for short, concise and correct information. Search by your natural disaster e.g. volcano or tsunami.

Variety of reading levels Quality resources including text, images, videos and ‘Web’s Best Sites’ Read aloud facility Size your font up or down Ready-made citation

Suggested articles include:

It is important to refine your search terms as your understanding more about your topic. Make sure you check your focus questions or task sheet guidelines. It is often best to use Google Advanced Search to narrow your search further and save yourself time. 

Use multiple search terms to drill down to the specific information you still need to find. Remember the use of AND and OR. For example:

• volcan* impact AND social OR human
• volcan* impact OR damage site:gov

Check out some suggested search terms:

Natural Hazards Preparedness:

A sample bibliography for 3 of the resources on this page would look like the following:

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Rusch, E 2013, Eruption, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, U.S.A.

Volcano 2015. Britannica School. Retrieved 31 August 2015, from http://school.eb.com.au/levels/middle/article/277623#209938.toc

Wan, E 2014, 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami Process and Impacts, online video, 22 September 2014, accessed 31 August 2015, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk6qD3xRd7s>.