Paper 1 Preparation » Tectonic Hazard Questions

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

How to identify and answer tectonic hazard questions in Paper 1
Key terminology and concepts related to tectonic processes
How to analyze the causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
Case study application techniques for high-mark questions
Strategies for comparing tectonic events in different development contexts

Understanding Tectonic Hazard Questions

Tectonic hazards are a major component of Paper 1 in your Cambridge iGCSE Geography exam. These questions test your knowledge of how the Earth's crust moves, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and how these events affect people differently around the world.

Key Definitions:

Tectonic hazard: A natural event related to movement of tectonic plates that poses a threat to people and property.
Plate tectonics: The theory explaining how the Earth's crust is divided into plates that move on the semi-molten mantle below.
Earthquake: A sudden violent shaking of the ground caused by movement of tectonic plates.
Volcano: An opening in the Earth's crust through which lava, ash and gases erupt.

🌋 Plate Boundaries

You need to know the three main types of plate boundaries:

Constructive: Plates move apart, creating new crust (mid-ocean ridges)
Destructive: Plates move toward each other, with one subducting beneath the other
Conservative: Plates slide past each other horizontally

📝 Exam Question Types

Tectonic questions typically ask you to:

Explain causes of tectonic events
Describe and explain effects
Evaluate responses to tectonic hazards
Compare events in HICs and LICs

Answering Cause Questions

Many Paper 1 questions will ask you to explain why tectonic events happen. These questions test your understanding of the physical processes involved.

Sample Question: "Explain how earthquakes occur at conservative plate boundaries." (4 marks)

How to Answer

For this type of question:

Define the plate boundary type
Explain the movement pattern
Describe how pressure builds up
Explain how energy is released as seismic waves

Example Answer:
"At conservative plate boundaries, two plates slide past each other horizontally (1 mark). As they move, friction causes the plates to stick and pressure builds up (1 mark). When the pressure exceeds the strength of the rocks, they suddenly slip (1 mark), releasing energy in the form of seismic waves that cause the ground to shake (1 mark)."

Describing and Explaining Effects

Questions about effects require you to categorize impacts as primary (direct results of the hazard) or secondary (occurring as a result of the primary effects).

🏠 Primary Effects

Buildings collapse
Ground shaking/rupture
Immediate deaths/injuries
Infrastructure damage

🔥 Secondary Effects

Fires from broken gas lines
Tsunamis (coastal earthquakes)
Landslides and avalanches
Disease outbreaks

💼 Economic Impacts

Cost of rebuilding
Business disruption
Tourism decline
Insurance losses

Comparing Impacts in HICs vs LICs

The exam often asks you to compare how tectonic hazards affect countries at different levels of development. This is where your case study knowledge becomes crucial.

🏧 HICs (Higher Income Countries)

Characteristics:

Better building regulations and earthquake-proof structures
Advanced warning systems
Well-equipped emergency services
Higher financial capacity for recovery

Result: Lower death tolls but higher economic costs

🏘 LICs (Lower Income Countries)

Characteristics:

Less strict building codes
Limited warning systems
Under-resourced emergency services
Limited funds for recovery

Result: Higher death tolls but often lower economic costs

Case Study Focus: 2010 Haiti Earthquake (LIC) vs 2011 Japan Earthquake (HIC)

Haiti: 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed over 220,000 people. Poor building standards, limited emergency response and slow recovery due to poverty and political instability.

Japan: 9.0 magnitude earthquake (much stronger) killed about 20,000 people (mostly from tsunami). Earthquake-resistant buildings, advanced warning systems and well-coordinated emergency response limited direct earthquake deaths.

Key comparison point: Despite Japan's earthquake being 100 times more powerful, Haiti suffered 10 times more fatalities, demonstrating how development level affects vulnerability.

Responding to Tectonic Hazards

Questions about responses to tectonic hazards often appear in Paper 1. You need to understand the difference between immediate responses and long-term planning.

🚑 Immediate Responses

Search and rescue operations
Emergency medical care
Provision of temporary shelter
Distribution of food and clean water
Restoration of critical infrastructure

🚧 Long-term Planning

Improved building codes
Public education and drills
Land-use planning (avoiding high-risk areas)
Early warning systems
Insurance schemes

Exam Technique for Tectonic Questions

Command Words to Watch For

Different command words require different approaches:

Describe: Say what you can see or what happened (no explanation needed)
Explain: Give reasons why something happens
Compare: Look at similarities and differences
Evaluate/Assess: Consider different viewpoints and make a judgment

Using Case Studies Effectively

For high-mark questions (6+ marks), you'll need to include specific case study details:

Name the location and date of the event
Include specific facts and figures (magnitude, death toll, cost)
Mention specific places affected within the region
Name specific response organizations or strategies

Sample Question Analysis (8 marks)

Question: "For a tectonic event you have studied, assess the effectiveness of the responses to the event."

Approach:

Name and briefly describe your case study (e.g., 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan)
Outline 2-3 immediate responses with specific details (e.g., 100,000 Japanese Self-Defense Forces deployed within 48 hours)
Discuss 2-3 long-term responses (e.g., revision of tsunami wall heights along coastline)
Evaluate which responses were most effective and why
Consider limitations or challenges faced (e.g., nuclear disaster complicating response)
Conclude with an overall judgment on response effectiveness

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When answering tectonic hazard questions, watch out for these common errors:

Confusing different plate boundary types and their associated hazards
Describing effects without explaining why they occurred
Using vague statements instead of specific case study details
Focusing only on immediate impacts and ignoring longer-term consequences
Not linking the severity of impacts to the level of development

Practice Question Approach

Let's look at how to approach a typical exam question:

Sample Question

"Explain why the effects of earthquakes are often worse in LICs than in HICs." (6 marks)

Structure your answer:

Briefly define what LICs and HICs are
Identify 3 reasons with explanations:
- Building quality and enforcement of codes
- Emergency service capacity and preparation
- Financial resources for recovery
Include specific examples from contrasting case studies
Link each point clearly to why it causes worse effects in LICs

Remember, in tectonic hazard questions, examiners are looking for your ability to connect physical processes with human impacts and to understand how development affects vulnerability and resilience. Always use specific case study details to support your points.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!