(2025/2026) LATeST verSIoN WITh verIFIeD
QUeSTIoNS AND ACCUrATe, DeTAILeD ANSWerS
1. Why might the level of wealth and development affect the impacts of
tectonic hazards?
- ANSWER
- High levels of wealth can lead to more investment in preparedness, e.g. Japan's
aseismic building architecture
- Increasing poverty often leads to more shanty towns, which don't have proper
building codes and are often built in vulnerable locations, e.g. favelas in Rio,
Brazil
2. Why might geographical isolation increase a population's vulnerability? -
ANSWER More isolated communities will take longer to reach with aid
teams, which could increase the number of preventable deaths
Why might governance affect a population's vulnerability? - ANSWER Weaker
governments will lead to less preparedness:
- Corruption and accusations of misspending aid loans in Haiti
- 150 people died in Somalia following the 04 tsunami despite hours of warning
3. How might the level of infrastructure influence a population's vulnerability?
- ANSWER - More investment in prediction and warning systems can let
people evacuate earlier
- Better travel infrastructure can allow aid to reach people quicker
, 4. How can the level of education in a population affect its vulnerability? -
ANSWER - More education about the risks of tectonic hazards can lead to
effective measures to protect life, such as Earthquake preparation day in
Japan
5. What were the impacts of the Pinatubo eruption? - ANSWER More than 800
died, 1.2 million left homeless, $700 million in economic damage, 15-20
million tonnes of SO2 caused global cooling of 0.6 degrees Celsius and
farmland was destroyed, making 650,000 lose their jobs.
6. What physical factors increased the severity of the Pinatubo eruption? -
ANSWER It was a VEI 6 eruption, many settlements are built in coastal
lowlands, increasing the risk of lahars, or on the steep mountainsides,
increasing the risk of pyroclastic flows and tephra. Also, Typhoon Yunya had
just struck, which people had not recovered from, and provided water for
lahars.
7. What human factors increased the risk of the Pinatubo eruption? - ANSWER
Many settlements have a high population density due to rapid urbanisation,
so 25% of the population lived in poverty in sub-par housing that would
collapse under ash. Also, the Aeta tribe that lived near the volcano refused to
evacuate, increasing the death toll.
8. When and where did the Eyjafjallajökull eruption occur? - ANSWER 2010,
on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, at a VEI 4 eruption
What were the impacts of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption? - ANSWER Airlines lost
$1.7 billion due to grounded flights, and over 10 million people were stranded for
over a week. However, video facilities were more heavily used, increasing a global
link. 800 people surrounding the volcano were evacuated
,1. What physical factors increased the severity of the Eyjafjallajokull
eruption? - ANSWER Large glacial deposits at the peak of the volcano were
melted to create steam, heavily increasing the severity of the CO2 cloud that
was released.
2. What human factors increased the severity of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption?
- ANSWER The active tourist industries around the world lead to millions
of people being stranded, heavily increasing the cost of the disaster.
3. When and where did the Haiti earthquake occur? - ANSWER Port-au-
Prince, 2010, with a 7.0 magnitude
4. What were the impacts of the Haiti earthquake? - ANSWER 250,000 people
died, 2 million people were made homeless, the poverty level jumped to
72%, and $7.8 billion worth of damage occured.
5. What physical factors increased the severity of the Haiti earthquake? -
ANSWER The focus was only 13km deep and the epicentre was 24km from
the capital and the steep terrain on many poorly built houses were
constructed lead to landslides.
6. What human factors increased the severity of the Haiti earthquake? -
ANSWER The capital was densely populated, most doctors were killed in
building collapses, and most buildings were built of concrete, which
collapse easily, increasing risk.
7. When and where did the NZ earthquake occur? - ANSWER Christchurch,
2011, with a 6.3 magnitude
, 8. What were the impacts of the Christchurch earthquake? - ANSWER 185
people died, 80% of water and sewage systems were destroyed, and 200,000
tonnes of silt were upturned due to liquefaction.
9. What physical factors increased the severity of the NZ earthquake? -
ANSWER The focus was 3km deep and the epicentre was 5km from the
CBD, and the loose rock types of the area lead to increased liquefaction.
10.What human factors increased the severity of the NZ earthquake? -
ANSWER Houses had been built on areas of poor geology, leading to
increased levels of homelessness in the short term, which could have been
avoided.
11.When and where did the China earthquake occur? - ANSWER Sichuan,
2008, with a 7.9 magnitude
12.What were the impacts of the China earthquake? - ANSWER Over 70,000
people died, 5 million buildings collapses and over $86 billion worth of
economic damage was sustained.
13.What physical factors increased the severity of the China earthquake? -
ANSWER The focus was only 10km deep, and the mountainous relief
increased the risk of landslides, which cause major damage.
14.What human factors increased the severity of the China earthquake? -
ANSWER The high immediate damage led to panic, which ended more
lives, and the relative poor people in comparison to the rest of China lived
in houses of a poorer quality, which collapsed more easily.