Geography - Natural Hazards

CORE QUESTIONS Section A Paper 1

What is a natural hazard?

A natural event that threatens people or has the potential to cause damage, destruction, and death.

What are tectonic hazards?

Hazards caused by the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic explosions.

What are the types of plate boundaries?

Constructive, destructive, Conservative, collision

What happens at a constructive plate boundary?

Plates move apart'; magma rises to form new crust, causing volcanoes and small earthquakes.

What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

Plates move towards each other; oceanic plate subducts under continental plate, causing earthquakes and volcanoes.

What happens at a conservative plate boundary?

Plates slide past each other, cuasing earthquakes.

What is the focus of an earthquake?

The point underground where the earthquake starts.

What is the epicentre of an earthquake?

The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus.

What is the Richter scale?

Measures the magnitude (energy) of an earthquake.

What is the Mercalli scale?

A scale that measures the effects and damage of an earthquake.

What is the primary effect of an earthquake?

Immediate impacts such as collapsed buildings, injuries and deaths.

What is the secondary effect of an earthquake?

Effects that happen later, such as fires, disease and homelessness.

What are immediate responses to an earthquake?

Search & rescue, emergency aid, evacuation, and providing medical care.

What are long-term responses to an earthquake?

Rebuilding, improving building regulations, and providing mental health support.

When and where did the Taiwan earthquake occur?

April 3rd 2024, off the east coast of Taiwan near Hualien.

What was the magnitude of the Taiwan earthquake?

7.4

What were the primary effects of the Taiwan earthquake?

Buildings collapsed in Hualien; roads were blocked by landslides; powers cuts affected thousands.

What were the secondary effects of the the Taiwan earthquake?

Disruption to transport; aftershocks caused further damage; tourism temporarily declined.

What were the immediate responses to the Taiwan earthquake?

Search and rescue teams were deployed quickly; emergency shelters were set up; injured people were treated in local hospitals.

What where the long-term responses to the Taiwan earthquake?

Damaged buildings were rebuilt to higher safety standards; improved earthquake drills were introduced in schools and businesses.

When are where did the Turkey-Syria earthquake occur?

February 6, 2023, along the Turkey-Syria border.

What was the magnitude of the Syria-Turkey earthquake?

7.8 followed by 7.5 aftershock.

What were the primary effects of the Syria-Turkey earthquake?

Over 59,000 people killed, buildings collapsed, hospitals and schools were destroyed, and millions were displaced.

What were the secondary effects of the Syria-Turkey earthquake?

Water shortages, spread of disease, and large-scale homelessness, especially in war-affected areas of Syria.

What were the immediate responses to the Syria-Turkey earthquake?

Search and rescue teams from around the world, emergency shelters provided, international aid such as food, water and medical supplies.

What were the long-term responses to the Syria-Turkey earthquake?

Ongoing rebuilding efforts, international funding, improved building codes in Turkey, and aid for refugees and displaced people.

Why do people live in areas at risk from tectonic hazards?

Fertile soils, geothermal energy, job opportunities, lack of choice, family ties, and confidence in technology.

How can earthquake risks be reduced?

Monitoring, building earthquake-resistant structures, educating people, and preparing emergency plans.

How are earthquakes predicted?

By using seismometers to detect small tremors, though accurate prediction is still not possible.

Why are the effects of earthquakes worse in LICs than HICs?

Less money for strong buildings, poor emergency services, lack of planning, and slower responses.

What is a natural hazard?

A natural event that has the potential to cause damage, death, or disruption to human life and property.

What is a weather hazard?

A hazard caused by extreme weather, such as storms, heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.

What is a tropical storm?

An intense storm system with heavy rain and strong winds that forms over warm oceans.

What are other names for tropical storms?

Hurricanes (Atlantic), Cyclones (Indian Ocean), and Typhoons (Pacific.)

What conditions are needed for a tropical storm to form?

Sea temperatures of 27°C or higher, low wind shear, and warm, moist air to fuel the storm.

Where do tropical storms form?

In tropical regions, between 5° and 30° north and south of the equator.

What is the eye of the storm?

The calm, clear, centre of a tropical storm with low pressure.

What are the primary effects of tropical storms?

Strong winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, flooding, and destruction of buildings.

What are the secondary effects of tropical storms?

Homelessness, disease outbreaks, water shortages, food shortages, and long-term economic impacts.

What are the immediate responses to tropical storms?

Search and rescue, emergency aid, evacuation, and temporary shelters.

What are the long-term responses to tropical storms?

Rebuilding homes, improving defences, restoring services, and improving disaster planning.

When and where did Typhoon Haiyan occur?

November 2013, Phillipines

What was the magnitude of Typhoon Haiyan?

Category 5 tropical storm, with wins speeds of up to 275 km/h and waves up to 15 metres high.

What were the primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

6,300 people killed, over 1 million homes damaged or destroyed, Tacloban airport badly damaged, and 40,000 homes flattened.

What were the secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

Flooding caused landslides, shortages of food, water, and shelter, disease outbreaks, and loss of income due to to destroyed fishing boats and farmland.

What were the immediate responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

International aid, food, and water, and medical supplies provided, 1,200 evacuation centres set up, search and rescue operations.

What were the long-term responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

Rebuilding infrastructure, building cyclone shelters, restoring rice farming and fishing, and launching a ‘cash for work’ rebuilding scheme.

What is the global distribution of tropical storms?

They mainly occur warm tropical oceans between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

How might climate change affect tropical storms?

Climate change may increase sea temperatures, possibly making storms for frequent, more intense, and with higher rainfall.

How can people reduce the effects of tropical storms?

Monitoring, predicting, planning, building storm-resistant structures, educating people, and creating evacuation plans.

When was Storm Bert and what caused it?

Storm Bert struck the UK in late November 2024, bringing a combination of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and localised snowfall. Storm Bert was caused by a complex weather system. A slow moving low-pressure system over the Atlantic brought persistent rain and strong winds to the UK.

What were the impacts of Storm Bert?

At least five people lost their lives due to storm-related incidents. Landslides and rising floodwaters forced evacuations in places such as Blaenau Gwent and Powys, with families seeking refuge in emergency shelters. Major rail routes, including those linking London to Wales and the southwest, were closed due to flooding and fallen trees.

Approx 15,000 homes lost power during the storm, some for prolonged periods.

What is the evidence for climate change?

Global temperature rise, shrinking glaciers, rising sea levels, changing seasons, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

How are ice cores evidence of climate change?

Ice cores trap gases from thousands of years ago, showing past temperature changes and CO₂ levels.

How do temperature records provide climate change evidence?

Records show that global temperatures have increased significantly, especially since the 1950s.

How do rising sea levels show climate change?

Melting ice sheets and thermal expansion of seawater have caused sea levels to rise by about 20cm in the past century.

How can tree rings show climate change?

Wider rings indicate warmer, wetter years; tree rings can show climate patterns for the last 1,000 years.

What are natural causes of climate change?

Volcanic eruption, changes in solar output, and Milankovitch cycles (changes in Earth’s orbit and tilt)

What are human causes of climate change?

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture (methane emissions), and industrial activity increasing greenhouse gases.

What are the environmental effects of climate change?

Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, more intense storms, loss of biodiversity, and desertification.

What are the social effects of climate change?

Climate refugees, food and water shortages, increased health risks, and damage to homes and infrastructure.

How can we manage climate change?

Mitigation (reducing emissions, using renewable energy, carbon capture, reforestation) and adaptation (building defences, changing farming, water conservation.)