A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY
EDEXCEL
TECTONICS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
12 marks
1.1
Assess the extent to which tectonic hazards can be explained by plate boundaries
● Most tectonic hazards occur on plate boundaries, particularly convergent and conservative boundaries.
● However, some do occur inside plate boundaries for reasons we don’t fully understand
Assess the extent to which different plate boundaries are associated with different tectonic hazards.
● Divergent plate boundaries will be associated with volcanoes
● Convergent and conservative boundaries will be associated with earthquakes
● Tsunamis will be caused by the same plates as earthquakes, just underwater
1.2
Assess the usefulness of theoretical frameworks in explaining plate movements (probably wouldn’t be a
question)
1.3
Assess the extent that physical processes influence the type and severity of a volcanic hazard.
● Hazard - potential severity - how much damage will it cause
● Physical processes - convergent or divergent boundary type of lava - andesitic, basaltic the
chemical composition of lava, the rock it passes through pyroclastic flows + lahars forming
● Only becomes a hazard if it affects people if it is in the ocean, it can be potentially dangerous, but
won’t end up affecting anyone prediction makes a difference, evacuation and vulnerability
● Convergent are more likely to make viscous lava, lahars and pyroclastic flow
Assess the extent that physical processes influence the magnitude and impacts of an earthquake hazard.
● Plate boundaries - convergent subduction or transform boundaries
● Depth of hypocentre - shallow more damaging, more energy in the waves
, ● Liquefaction and landslides exacerbate the hazard effect - not exactly processes
● Human - vulnerability, governance
● Arguably more impactful than physical processes - Haiti was affected very badly, even though it was
only a 6.3 earthquake. Poverty exacerbates massively
● Multiple hazard zones
Could be a similar question on tsunamis but unlikely.
1.4
Assess the usefulness of models such as the PAR model in understanding the complex inter-relationships
between a hazard and its wider context.
● PAR model shows the conditions of the country affected - its living standards, preparation, and
political orientation. This is meant to show how context can affect a country when it is hit by a hazard.
● Good, as it can show why the country is vulnerable to hazards
● Bad, focuses too much on the wider context and not much on the hazard itself
Assess the view that human vulnerability is the biggest risk in turning a hazard into a disaster
● Human - preparedness is a large factor - Japan is one of the most prepared countries. Alerts prior to the
hazard, survival kits with first aid and food. Haiti is vulnerable because of the amount of urbanisation
● Size and magnitude of disaster - mega disasters will turn into disasters no matter how resilient they are
● Physical vulnerability - at risk from secondary disasters, such as Haiti who are vulnerable to storms
and tsunamis
Assess the extent that the social and economic impacts of earthquake/volcanic/tectonic hazards vary for
countries at different levels of development.
● Social impacts - will likely be worse as the quality of life was worse off before the hazard, buildings are
poor quality, Bam in Iran had over 30,000 deaths due to a lot of people living in mud huts.
● Economic impacts - less insurance to cover damages, limited infrastructure can be destroyed easily.
Even though numbers may be less, the damage to their economy is relatively huge
Assess the view that social impacts of tectonic hazards are always worse than economic impacts.
EDEXCEL
TECTONICS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
12 marks
1.1
Assess the extent to which tectonic hazards can be explained by plate boundaries
● Most tectonic hazards occur on plate boundaries, particularly convergent and conservative boundaries.
● However, some do occur inside plate boundaries for reasons we don’t fully understand
Assess the extent to which different plate boundaries are associated with different tectonic hazards.
● Divergent plate boundaries will be associated with volcanoes
● Convergent and conservative boundaries will be associated with earthquakes
● Tsunamis will be caused by the same plates as earthquakes, just underwater
1.2
Assess the usefulness of theoretical frameworks in explaining plate movements (probably wouldn’t be a
question)
1.3
Assess the extent that physical processes influence the type and severity of a volcanic hazard.
● Hazard - potential severity - how much damage will it cause
● Physical processes - convergent or divergent boundary type of lava - andesitic, basaltic the
chemical composition of lava, the rock it passes through pyroclastic flows + lahars forming
● Only becomes a hazard if it affects people if it is in the ocean, it can be potentially dangerous, but
won’t end up affecting anyone prediction makes a difference, evacuation and vulnerability
● Convergent are more likely to make viscous lava, lahars and pyroclastic flow
Assess the extent that physical processes influence the magnitude and impacts of an earthquake hazard.
● Plate boundaries - convergent subduction or transform boundaries
● Depth of hypocentre - shallow more damaging, more energy in the waves
, ● Liquefaction and landslides exacerbate the hazard effect - not exactly processes
● Human - vulnerability, governance
● Arguably more impactful than physical processes - Haiti was affected very badly, even though it was
only a 6.3 earthquake. Poverty exacerbates massively
● Multiple hazard zones
Could be a similar question on tsunamis but unlikely.
1.4
Assess the usefulness of models such as the PAR model in understanding the complex inter-relationships
between a hazard and its wider context.
● PAR model shows the conditions of the country affected - its living standards, preparation, and
political orientation. This is meant to show how context can affect a country when it is hit by a hazard.
● Good, as it can show why the country is vulnerable to hazards
● Bad, focuses too much on the wider context and not much on the hazard itself
Assess the view that human vulnerability is the biggest risk in turning a hazard into a disaster
● Human - preparedness is a large factor - Japan is one of the most prepared countries. Alerts prior to the
hazard, survival kits with first aid and food. Haiti is vulnerable because of the amount of urbanisation
● Size and magnitude of disaster - mega disasters will turn into disasters no matter how resilient they are
● Physical vulnerability - at risk from secondary disasters, such as Haiti who are vulnerable to storms
and tsunamis
Assess the extent that the social and economic impacts of earthquake/volcanic/tectonic hazards vary for
countries at different levels of development.
● Social impacts - will likely be worse as the quality of life was worse off before the hazard, buildings are
poor quality, Bam in Iran had over 30,000 deaths due to a lot of people living in mud huts.
● Economic impacts - less insurance to cover damages, limited infrastructure can be destroyed easily.
Even though numbers may be less, the damage to their economy is relatively huge
Assess the view that social impacts of tectonic hazards are always worse than economic impacts.
