AQA GCSE Geography Paper 1 Section A: Natural Hazards
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Course
Geography
Institution
GCSE
Detailed summary of spec points for section A of the AQA GCSE geography paper 1, containing important and accurate case study information on Nepal, Chile and UK weather events. Written by a grade 9 student and has everything clearly explained to be written word-for-word in an exam
Natural hazards are extreme natural events that can cause loss of life, extreme property damage and disrupt human
activities.
Types of natural hazard:
→ Tectonic hazards are caused by movements in the Earth’s plates e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes
→ Atmospheric hazards are caused be meteorological (weather) events e.g. tornados, hurricanes
→ Geomorphological hazards occur due to forces changing the relief or shape of the Earth’s surface e.g. flooding,
landslides
→ Biological hazards are those involving living organisms e.g. forest fires, plagues
→ Hydrological hazards are those involving water
Factors affecting flood risk:
→ Frequency: How often a hazard occurs
→ Location: Position of region in the world.
→ Magnitude: Size of the event
→ Population distribution: Number of people living in a specific area
3.1.1.2: Tectonic Hazards
The plate tectonics theory states that the earth's outer rigid layer (the lithosphere) is divided into "plates" that move
around across the earth's surface relative to each other. This process is called continental drift.
The lithosphere consists of the earth’s crust and upper part of the mantle and is divided into seven large and several
smaller plates. The plates float on the underlying asthenosphere. Plate tectonics is the movement of these plates and their
resultant landforms.
Destructive Plate Margin: An oceanic and a continental plate move towards each other. The oceanic plate is heavier so
it sinks (subducts) under the continental plate. The plate melts and the magma rises to the surface and erupts as a volcano.
VOLCANO + EARTHQUAKE
Constructive Plate Margin: 2 oceanic plates move away from each other leaving a gap in the earth’s crust. Hot magma
pushes up creating volcanoes under the sea. VOLCANO + EARTHQUAKE
Conservative Plate Margin: 2 plates move against each other. The pressure builds up until one plate slips forward
causing an earthquake. EARTHQUAKE
Collision Plate Margin: 2 continental plates move towards each other. When they hit each other they are forced upwards
creating fold mountains. The movement generates earthquakes in the area. EARTHQUAKE
CASE STUDY: CHILE + NEPAL:
→ On 27/02/2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile. The earthquake occurred at a destructive plate margin
between the Nazca plate and the South American plate.
→ On 25/04/2015, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. The earthquake occurred at a destructive plate margin
between the Indo-Australian plate and the Eurasian plate.
Chile (HIC): GDP rank: 38th, HDI rank: 41st
Nepal (LIC): GDP rank: 109th, HDI rank: 145th
, Chile (HIC) Nepal (LIC)
Primary → Around 500 people killed and 12000 injured → 9000 people died and 20000 injured
Effects → 220000 homes, 4500 schools, 53 ports, 56 hospitals → 1.4 million needed food, water and shelter
destroyed. → 7000 schools destroyed and hospitals overwhelmed.
→ 50% of shops destroyed
→ Port of Talcahuanao and Santiago Airport damaged.
→ Cost of damages estimated at $5 billion.
→ Cost of repairs estimated at $30 billion
Secondary → 1500km road damage by landslides → obstructs → Landslides caused road blockages.
Effects emergency services → Avalanches on Mt Everest killed 19 people
→ Fire at a chemical plant near Santiago → Avalanche in Langtang region left 250 ppl missing
→ Several coastal towns devastated by tsunamis. → Landslide blocked the Kali Gandaki River, 140km
away from capital
Chile Nepal
Immediate → Emergency services acted swiftly. International help → Search and rescue teams arrived quickly from UK,
Responses was neded to supply field hospitals India and China
→ Temporary repairs to Route 5 N-S Highway in 24 → 500k tents needed to provide shelter for the
hrs, enabling aid transport homeless.
→ Power restored to 90% of homes in 10 days → 300k people migrated frm Kathmandu to safety
→ National appeal raised $60 million to build 30k and to be with family
short term shelters → Aid pledged from many countries
Long Term → A month after, Chile’s govt launched a housing plan → 1000s of people rehoused + 7000 schools rebuilt.
Responses to help 200k households → Stricter controls on building.
→ Chile’s copper based economy could be rebuilt → 5 years later, govt held a conferenc to seek further
without much foreign aid. support from other countries
→ President announced it could take 4 years to fully → Repairs to Everest base camp and trekking routes.
recover.
➔ Why People Live near Volcanoes
→ Fertile Soils: The minerals released during volcanic eruptions make the soil fertile e.g. Wine from Mt Etna
→ Geothermal Energy: Where there are volcanoes, it is normally possible to source geothermal power e.g. Iceland
→ Resources: Some minerals like sulphur are located on the slopes and these can be used for car batteries e.g. Mt St
Helens.
→ Ignorance: People are simply unaware that they are living in a hazardous area e.g. Mt St Helens, USA
➔ Reducing risks from an Earthquake
Prediction: Tiltmeters can check any movement within the rocks
→ Water levels will rise
→ A seismometer is used to pick up vibrations in the Earth’s crust.
Preparation: → Training emergency services
→ Land use planning: hospitals and schools being built in low risk areas.
Protection: Isolate the building from the ground so that it does not shake as much as the ground does
→ Strengthen the building so the shaking does not bother it.
➔ Reducing risks from a Volcano
Aircraft: Measures the amount of gas given off. When a volcano is close to erupting it starts to release gases such as
sulphur.
Seismometer: Monitors movements in the ground. These movements increase as magma rises.
Concrete lahar channels: Diverts dangerous mudflows
Concrete shelters: Protects people against volcanic bombs and ash.
Evacuation drills: People know what to do in the event of a hazard.
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