More about earthquakes and nuclear hazard

The recent events in Japan have put the nuclear debate in the spotlight. Here you have some maps and additional information about the location of nuclear power plants in the world and the areas of seismic hazard. 

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN THE WORLD

Source: http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/CurrentReactors

NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS RELATED TO EARTHQUAKE ZONES

Source: http://maptd.com/worldwide-map-of-nuclear-power-stations-and-earthquake-zones/

USA COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS 

Source: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/nuclear-power-and-earthquake-zones-overlap-in-the-us

USA SEISMIC HAZARD 

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42103936/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN SPAIN

Source: http://www.insc.anl.gov/pwrmaps/map/spain.php

SEISMIC HAZARD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASSIN

Source: http://www.seismo2009.ethz.ch/gshap/sesame/sesame99.html

And here you have the list of the largest earthquakes by magnitude and by number of victims: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_earthquakes#Largest_earthquakes_by_magnitude

The Iberian Peninsula suffered a huge earthquake in 1755. This was the Lisbon earthquake and it caused a tsunami that destroyed Portugal´s capital city: Here you have a map of the impact of this tsunami in the Atlantic Ocean: 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake

The first projects

Here you have three examples of the best projects the students have prepared about the secondary and tertiary sectors. The students had to interview someone who works in one of these sectors and prepare a report with the data they collected. The purpose of the project was to apply all the theoretical concepts we studied during the lessons and to get to know the real world where they live in a better and more practical way.

These three girls have worked really hard. We hope you like their projects. Please, leave your comments.

Open publication - Free publishing - More transport

Open publication - Free publishing - More calibration

Open publication - Free publishing

14th of March the 2011

Hello everyone !!

Today in the class , Kelly has been with us. Then, I have given the notebooks with very good marks. Afterwards, Kelly and Paqui have given the exams with very good marks as well. :)

Source: http://conbipastas.blogia.com/2011/030201.php

Then, we have started the new unit about the political organization of societies. Afterwards, we have copied the first scheme about "What is a State?" and then Kelly has read this first part. Then, we have copied the types of States: depending on the head of State and depending on the origin and the way of holding power. We can distingued the two types of republics, for example France and United States are examples of Presidential Republics because the president hold the executive power and while Germany and Italy both have presidents because it is the Parliment that holds the executive power. Afterwards, Paqui has talked about this presidents such as Christian Wulf in Germany and Giorgio Napolitano in Italy. People think that the president of Germany is Angela Merkel because she is the head of the government and holds the executive power. The president of the Republic has very little power, it's a representative figure, similar to the king in Spain. The features of monarchy are if the head of the State is a king. At first, monarchy was elective. At present, monarchy is hereditary and held for life.

Christian Wulf, Germany

Source: http://solpropertygroup.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/germanys-president-to-visit-costa-rica-next-week/

Giorgio Napolitano, Italy

Source: http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/lingue/es/es-nap-biografia.htm

Then, Kelly has continued reading the page 57. Finally, Paqui has given three exercises for homework. And the next class Paqui will said the marks of the second term.....

Earthquakes and tsunamis

The Japanese archipelago is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity, where the Pacific tectonic plate meets the North American plate and the Eurasian plate. 

TECTONIC PLATES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire

PACIFIC RING OF FIRE

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire

As you may remind from 1º ESO, tectonic plates move and produce earthquakes. If earthquakes take place on the ocean floor, a tsunami ("harbor wave", in Japanese) can happen. 

On these links you can see an animated explanation about why earthquakes and tsunamis happen: 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7533950.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7533972.stm

Yesterday´s earthquake in the Pacific Ocean caused a tsunami that reached the Japanese coasts. The tsunami alert extended to all the Pacific coastal countries.

Source: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/35/ttvulhvpd9-35.jpg

Nature reminds us from time to time that we, humans, are not here forever. We can´t avoid natural disasters, but we can use our knowledge to foresee and minimize them. Although the damages in Japan are huge, the Japanese technology and prevention has made the impact of this 8.9-degree- earthquake smaller in number of victims than the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.

TSUNAMI WARNING IN JAPAN

Source: http://www.jma.go.jp/en/tsunami/joho.html

Here you can observe some of the most impressive images of the tsunami caused by the earthquake: 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7533972.stm

However, the most important risk now comes from human beings: Fukushima nuclear power station. Is it safe to build nuclear power plants in seismic risk areas?

Source: http://gakuranman.com/great-tohoku-earthquake/

For further information about earthquakes: 

- Euro Mediterranean Seismological Center:

http://www.emsc-csem.org/index.php?page=home#2w

- Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain):

http://www.ign.es/ign/layoutIn/sismoDetalleTerremotos.do?evid=ign2011eyyf&zona=3#

- U.S Geological Survey: 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/#maps

10,000 visits!!

 Source: http://comments.freefromchaos.com/congrats/congrats003.shtml

Hello everybody!

This weekend we have reached 10,000 visits in our blog. We know that the visits are not only from Spain, there are people from other countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, France, Germany and many other countries use our blog to solve doubts and get information about many differents topics of this subject.

We want to thank our teachers, Paqui and Kelly, they help us everyday to improve this blog with corrections and posts about all the things we learn in class.

We also want to thank all the people that visit this blog, we promise that we will improve it.

Anyone wants to reach to 20,000 visits?

Congratulations to all the Staff of this blog!

Source: http://www.mypatraining.com/inside-pa-training-10000-views-and-just-getting-started

Friday,11th March

Today in Social Sciences we have an exam .

The exam was about  the secondary and tertiary sector.

We have 50 minutes to do it , I answer all the questions .

It was not to difficult. It was very short ,there were  four questions.

Source:  http://1medsalud.blogspot.com/2010/04/alumnos-con-el-estres-de-examen.html

Challenge number 11

This week´s challenge will be a "superquestion". The superquestion was the last part of a legendary TV contest, El tiempo es oro (Time is gold). This show was broadcasted between 1987 and 1992 and it was presented by Constantino Romero. In the final part of the show the contestant had to solve three linked questions. The answer to the first question allowed the contestant to go on with the second one and the answer to this one gave the clue to the third and definitive answer. The contestants could use several encyclopedias and dictionaries to solve the questions. You can do the same with your superquestion. As we´re starting a new unit next week, let´s review a little bit!

QUESTION 1

What body of water is this one? Where is it located (continent and country)?

QUESTION 2

One of the countries next to this body of water has five places considered as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. Which country is this? What´s its capital city? What of these World Heritage Sites is represented on the following image? Why was this city so important during the Middle Ages?

QUESTION 3

Explain what type of government the country where the body of water and the city of the pictures are located has.

And remember, don´t copy and paste! Write your own answers. You have time until Sunday, 22:00. 

9th of March

Today in Social Science has been the fist class after Carnival.

In class Ana Margarita has been with us. At first Paqui has explained a little bit the marks of the projects and then we have checked the eleven exercises about transport and tourism in Spain.

Finally we have checked the crossword of the unit, the teacher Ana Margarita has read the questions of the crossword and each one of us has answered.

After that Paqui has distributed the projects about secondary and tertiary sector that we gave last Wednesday. When Paqui has given the projects, we have looked the marks and we have ask she what sector we have to study for the exam on Friday.

This is all for today.

The photograph is the industrial area of Campo de Criptana that many students have visited to prepare their projects.

Source: http://www.interempresas.net/Naves/Articulos/48477-Sepes-prorroga-hasta-junio-las-medidas-para-dinamizar-4-poligonos-manchegos.html

Challenge number 10

Spain is the second world touristic destination. Many of the tourists that come to Spain choose this country for its mild weather, its beaches and its competitive prices, in comparison with other touristic countries. However, Spain has a wide offer of cultural places and natural landscapes that could attract many visitors. This week´s challenge will consist in discovering some of these interesting places. You will have to identify the pictures, writing their names and where they are located. 

PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2

PICTURE 3

PICTURE 4

PICTURE 5

PICTURE 6

The last question has an open answer. If you had to choose a place to visit in Spain, that is not the typical place tourists usually visit, what would you choose? Explain why. 

P.S: Don´t forget to check your mails on Monday to know what you will have to study for the exam on Friday the 11th. 

Wednesday, 2nd of March

Today the person that was in charge of writting the journal was Juan Carlos but he didn't write it.

Today we had to give to Paqui the project about the tertiary sector or the secondary sector. After that we have finished the unit because we only have to read the tertiary sector in Spain: Trade, transport, communications and tourism. Then we have said her same doubts. Paqui has given us the exercises that left of the page of the review sheet and for homework she has given us to do the crossword for Wednesday because on Friday we are not going to have class because we are going to go Tomelloso to see a play and on Monday we don't have class because it's CARNIVAL!

Bye bye

Image: http://www.spanishnews.es/20100623-spanish-tourism-needs-drastic-change-in-order-to-maintain-leadership-says-oecd/id=2698/