The Life and Survival in The Ring of Fire

Written By: Suehayla Mohieldin

Grade: 8B

Submitted To: Ms. Jenny Wannas

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:Table of Content

Outline ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5

Body --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

Bibliography ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

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:Outline

I. Introduction
A. March 11
B. Cause of nightmare
C. Natural Disasters

II. Japan's Location

A. Japan's Geography
B. Ring of fire
C. The cause of the ring of fire
D. Plate tectonics

III. Earthquakes and tsunamis

A. The cause of an earthquake
B. The earthquake that happened in Japan
C. The cause of a tsunami
D. The tsunami that happened in Japan

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IV. Nuclear power plant
A. The nuclear power plant
B. The reactors in Fukushima
C. The explosion
D. negative effects of the reactor to the human body

V. Human solidarity
A. avoidance of radiation
B. better houses
C. a lot of countries assistance
D. Appreciation

VI. Conclusion
A. Technology has new use
B. Problem's development
C. Japan's future

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 March 11, marked a day in which it was hard to differentiate the earth from the sky.

Japan's geography is the ultimate reason behind the nightmare that it is in today.

Although Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world it did not how to

face so many disasters all at once.

Nothing in life is perfect, Japan is a beautiful island in East of Asia in the pacific

ocean, with high mountains and green landscape which is comparable to Germany

and California but it is located in a very dangerous area known as the "Ring of

Fire,"[ CITATION jap10 \l 1033 ] . The Ring of Fire is positioned all across the pacific

ocean, it represents 75% of the world's active volcanoes as well being responsible for

causing many destructive earthquakes,[ CITATION vol11 \l 1033 ]. It is a result of the

plate tectonics which are moving plates under Earth's surface. Japan lies on the

Pacific-Philippine-Eurasian triple plate intersection ,[ CITATION ear09 \l 1033 ] . This

area contains the complex interactions of the three tectonic plates. This make the

region unpredictable and loaded with potential activity. Sometimes these plates

collide and when they do they form massive earthquakes,[ CITATION ear091 \l 1033 ].

Due to the collision of the rough edges of the plates an earthquake occurs which may

lead to several disasters. The damages of an earthquake may either be a slight damage

of houses and buildings or the destruction of an entire city leaving it in complete

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turmoil. This, of course, depends on an earthquake's magnitude which is measured by

the Richter Scale,[ CITATION Eff06 \l 1033 ]. Similarly, Japan on March 11 2011,

witnessed one of the strongest earthquakes that Earth has ever experienced with a 9.0

measurement on the Richter Scale. The Earth shuddered for more than two minutes

demolishing buildings, bridges, roads and skyscrapers swaying back and forth. In

addition to this, there was a volcano at Mount Fuji which last erupted in 1708 erupted.

Furthermore there were many fires spread out through the country,[ CITATION

20111 \l 1033 ] This was not the end but only the beginning of a new crisis. The

destructive earthquake caused a violent uplift of the sea floor 80 miles off the coast of

the Japanese city Sendai, where the Pacific tectonic plate slides beneath the plate

Japan lies on. Tens of miles of crust broke along the trench. This happened to be the

location where the tectonic plates met. The earthquake unfortunately occurred at a

relatively shallow depth of 15 miles, meaning much of its energy was released at the

seafloor resulting into what is called a Tsunami,[ CITATION gib11 \l 1033 ]. These

series of enormous waves which reached up to 10 meters high and swept houses, cars

planes, boats, bridges, farmlands to an extent that it wrecked havoc on an entire city.

Still the disaster was not over, at Fukushima a great catastrophe took place.

Fukushima has nuclear power plants which is an environmental way to decrease the

chances of global warming spreading, by obtaining electrical power from a nuclear

reactor. The nuclear reactor works by nuclear fission fuelled by uranium, which heats

up water, and later evaporates. The steam turns the turbines, which in turn drive

electric generators.[ CITATION wil11 \l 1033 ] Although this is an environmental

way to produce electricity it also has its negative effects. For example if in any case

the plant underwent a nuclear meltdown or leak there may be a big problem. This is

exactly what happened during and after the earthquake in Japan. During the

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earthquake the nuclear power plants shut down, but when the Tsunami came it

drowned the backup generator needed to cool the nuclear power plants and drained

the spare batteries. Without power the nuclear power plant's core temperature could

not be brought down which lead to an explosion and then a partial meltdown,

[ CITATION Klu11 \l 1033 ] .Although sea water was added to the nuclear power

plant it did not totally cool the reactors. Therefore, radiation has spread. The Nuclear

and Industrial Safety Agency has stated that "the radiation levels have increased!"

This increase may damage cells and tissues of humans damaging the nervous system

which would break down followed by the breakdown of the immune system which

leading to death. In other cases, if the radiation was not so great then humans may get

cancer,[ CITATION Nuc11 \l 1033 ].

To avoid exposure to radiation, inhabitants living near to the reactors, were moved

to safer places. This was not the only way the Japanese government helped its

citizens. The government is building better houses which will not be ruined easily by

an earthquake. One of the good things that happened is that many countries around

the world offered help and assistance. Even countries like Afghanistan and Vietnam

are much poorer than Japan they offered money to help, [ CITATION jap11 \l

1033 ]. It is not the amount of money that matters but it is the concept of friendship

and support, that was much appreciated.

Although this natural disaster has happened months ago, Japan's technology could

not contain the results of the disaster. Until this day Japan has not fully controlled

this nuclear catastrophe and may lead other countries to becoming harmed. Now

Japan is in a much bigger risk of the nuclear meltdown and is becoming harmed

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every second, not only Japan but the whole world. The Nuclear Plants that were once

thought as a great help is now being the enemy of all mankind.

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