Prevention and limitations of the disastrous effect of the plate tectonics movement:

Earthquakes:

Scientists are looking into new techniques but at the moment there is still no way of predicting earthquake. We can only prepare for them thoroughly. Some ways that they can be detected though when they start is through the following:

Seismometers:

A seismometer detects movement in the ground. The instrument is generally used to monitor the different seismic waves as they approach an area (Primary, Secondary, Love and Rayleigh wave) and monitor their violence.

Creepmeter:

Creepmeters is a device used to record the movement of a fault. Two piers on either side of the fault are connected to each other from opposite sides of the fault. As the fault moves the connection is pulled (usually a spring) and the creep is recorded on a computer.

Strainmeters:

Strainmeters are instruments used to measure the deformation and movement of the earth's crust. The instrument monitors the build up of tension in a certain area. The more pressure and strain the more likely faulting and an earthquakes are to occur, the instrument is usually placed in a bore hole were noise doesn’t effect the instrument and is cemented into the ground at 200 metres.

Laser Beam Survey:

Measures changes in the shape of the mountain or movement on the fault line. This is then used to alert warning centres of the movement cause by earthquakes via satellites.

Earthquake Early Warning:

Earthquake Early Warning is a way of warning people of Earthquakes seconds to minutes in advance. The system requires a large amount of seismic monitors to alert stations of seismic activity that then alerts people of when shaking will start. The system uses the fastest moving Primary waves to detect the earthquake which then gives people time to prepare for the more destructive Secondary and Love and Rayleigh waves to reach their area. Scientists see this as the best option at the moment as there are no viable ways of predicting yet and so this method gives the most warning.

Accuracy of such instruments:

These instruments have been around for centuries with primitive seismometers being created in 1855 and overtime new technology has allowed these to be very accurate ways of measuring the movement of tectonic plates and the movement caused by earthquakes. These instruments are accurate but they don’t predict earthquakes and that is the issue, they only measure when an earthquake occurs or measure movement in the ground but can not accurately predict earthquakes.

Improvements:

The instruments that are used today are highly advanced, hence they don’t need anymore advancements to be made to them. The next step on the agenda for seismologists is to find ways of actually predicting when earthquakes will occur to give everyone ample time to find safety. Scientists are making research into different avenues of the detection of earthquakes. It has been recorded that some animals are able to detect when an earthquake it about to occur. This method has been used to detect earthquakes in some Chinese provinces. “There are also well-documented but difficult-to-explain phenomena of earthquake lights, thermal infrared anomalies, VLP (very low frequency) radio waves, and TEC (total electron count) anomalies that have been observed in areas near future earthquake epicentres. These all point to some type of electromagnetic disturbance that may be associated with the tectonic pressure buildup that leads to earthquakes.” (Brian Shiro NOAA Federal 2015). Into the future this maybe used as a way of predicting earthquakes and being better prepared by such research although it is still in its primitive stages and could be decades before scientists fully understand this. As well, monitoring the release of Radon Gas, this gas contains radioactive isotopes and is usually held in the mineral crystals of rocks, though before an earthquake occurs small fractures can occur releasing this gas. This could be a way to predict earthquakes into the future though the issue is, getting instruments out to detect the gas release and proving its validity.

Tsunami Detection:

Tsunamis are created as bi-products of submarine land slides, submarine volcanic eruptions and submarine earthquakes and hence predicting the occurrence of these comes through being able to predict these movements. Though there are methods of detection of tsunamis that are available.

Deep-Ocean Tsunami Detection Buoy:

Deep-Ocean Tsunami Detection Buoys are apparatus that measure the change in pressure and movement in the ocean. A computer that sits on the floor of the ocean analyses the changing height of the water by analysing pressure. The computer collates this information and transmits it to a buoy on the surface of the water. This surface buoy is then used to send this information to Tsunami Warning Centres. The system has two modes. A standard mode and event mode. The standard mode sends general information periodically to Tsunami Warning Centres and so saves energy as it is not continuously sending information. Event mode is the other mode and is activated when the computer detects the tsunami waves (or seismic waves) passing through the water and then is able to record the changing pressure in water. This information can then be used to determine the size of the Tsunami that will be generated.

 Tidal Gauges:

These are usually used to measure the heights of tides but can also be used to measure the heights of Tsunami’s. A vertical pipe sits above the water with the bottom end in the water. Sound waves are emitted to the bottom of the pipe which is underwater. As the sound hits the water it radiates back to the top giving a reading of the surface height of the ocean. This is effective in monitoring the change of water heights around the coast of effected areas.

Satellites:

Using Satellite is a less effective way of detecting tsunamis as the satellite has to be in orbit for the process to work.

Tsunami Warning Centres:

Warning Centres are set up to monitor areas for Tsunamis. In the Pacific the main centre is located in Ewa Beach Hawaii and is operated by United State National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, centres are also located in the Indian, Caribbean and Atlantic/Mediterranean. The warning centres are able to warn countries of the potential of a tsunami and also able to estimate heights of the waves using information from the deep sea buoys that are located around faults using the relationship between speed of the tsunami and water depth, with tsunamis being taller if they are in shallower water but also slower.

Accuracy of Equipment:

Tidal Gauges are extremely accurate at measuring the changes in water height down to 1mm of inaccuracy, satellites are less accurate but can give good indication about the displacement caused by the Tsunami over a large area if a satellite is available. The issue once again is that they don’t predict tsunamis before hand. Deep-Ocean Buoys on the other hand are becoming more and more accurate. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami sparked a renewal into Tsunami warning systems with the UN forming an Indian Ocean Warning Centre after the disaster of 2004. The disaster itself has led to a renewal in the investigation of the technology and today the warning centres around the world are able make accurate prediction on the wave size and the level of danger the community is in. In 2011 the Japanese warning system underestimated the size of the wave which caused people to underestimate the danger they were in. The systems that are in place are becoming more and more accurate with Japan installing a new centre after the 2011 Tsunami and Earthquake which will more accurately calculate the size of the wave.

Improvements:

As mentioned earlier the warning systems are becoming more and more advanced as these disasters continue to effect the lives of thousands of people around the globe. These advancements will continue into the future and give people more warning.