Geological Event Case Study
Write an analytical case study about a specific geological event that has occurred in an urban region. Topics might include specific landslides, areas of subsidence, sinkholes, earthquakes, or volcanoes. Geographic case studies detail a particular instance of something connected to a particular geography through literature research analyzed to illustrate a thesis or principle – in other words describe the where, what, when, who & why with the purpose of drawing out a “so what?” conclusion. Often in urban ecology the “so what” deals with a planning implication, best practice, or lessons learned from the event.
Your work should follow a conventional literature-based research flow organized by topic or chronology (not source) with the expressed goal of answering a guiding research question.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Case Study: The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011
Introduction
The Great East Japan Earthquake, also known as the Tohoku earthquake, was a powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. This geological event had a profound impact on the urban region, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. This case study aims to analyze the event and draw out lessons learned and planning implications from the perspective of urban ecology.
Background
Where: The earthquake primarily affected the northeastern coast of Japan, including the Tohoku region and the city of Sendai.
What: The earthquake was caused by the rupture of a subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Okhotsk Plate. The sudden release of energy resulted in massive ground shaking.
When: The earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, at 2:46 p.m. local time.
Who: The earthquake affected millions of people in Japan, with the highest impact felt in the coastal cities and towns of the Tohoku region.
Why: The Tohoku earthquake was a result of tectonic forces in the region, where the Pacific Plate is converging with the Okhotsk Plate.
Impact on Urban Areas
Physical Infrastructure: The earthquake caused extensive damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure in urban areas. Many structures collapsed or suffered severe damage, leading to disruptions in transportation, utilities, and communication networks.
Tsunami: The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that inundated coastal areas, including urban centers. The tsunami waves reached heights of over 40 meters in some locations, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, located in an urban area near the coastline, experienced a series of failures following the earthquake and tsunami. This led to a nuclear meltdown and the release of radioactive materials, resulting in long-term environmental and health consequences.
Lessons Learned and Planning Implications
Building Codes and Infrastructure Design: The Tohoku earthquake highlighted the importance of robust building codes and infrastructure design in earthquake-prone regions. Lessons learned from this event have led to stricter building regulations, improved structural resilience, and better incorporation of seismic safety measures.
Emergency Preparedness and Response: The disaster revealed the need for enhanced emergency preparedness and response systems in urban areas. Effective evacuation plans, early warning systems, and communication strategies are crucial for minimizing casualties and facilitating timely assistance.
Coastal Planning and Land Use: The tsunami that followed the earthquake emphasized the importance of proper coastal planning and land use regulations. Urban areas need to consider setbacks from the coastline, barriers or natural buffers to reduce tsunami impact, and zoning regulations that prioritize safety.
Community Resilience: The event highlighted the significance of community resilience in urban areas. Building social cohesion, fostering strong community networks, and promoting disaster awareness can help communities better cope with and recover from such events.
Conclusion
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 was a devastating geological event that had far-reaching impacts on urban areas. The lessons learned from this event have shaped planning practices in earthquake-prone regions, emphasizing the importance of robust building codes, emergency preparedness systems, coastal planning measures, and community resilience. By incorporating these lessons into urban planning strategies, cities can mitigate risks, enhance disaster resilience, and protect the well-being of their residents in the face of future geological events.
