GCSE
Geography
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Introduction to GCSE Geography (AQA)
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1.1 The Challenge of Natural Hazards
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1.1.1 Natural Hazards
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1.1.2 Tectonic Hazards
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1.1.3 Effects of and Responses to Tectonic Hazards
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1.1.4 Reducing the Effects of Tectonic Hazards
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1.1.5 Global Atmospheric Circulation
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1.1.6 Tropical Storms
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1.1.7 Effects of Tropical Storms
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1.1.8 Weather Hazards in the UK
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1.1.9 Extreme Weather Events in the UK
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1.1.10 Climate Change
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1.1.11 Managing Climate Change
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1.1.1 Natural Hazards
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1.2 The Living World
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1.2.1 Ecosystems
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1.2.2 Tropical Rainforests
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1.2.3 Deforestation
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1.2.4 Sustainable Management of Tropical Rainforests
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1.2.5 Hot Deserts
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1.2.6 Development of Hot Desert Environments
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1.2.7 Desertification
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1.2.8 Cold Environments
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1.2.9 Development of Cold Environments
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1.2.10 Economic Development in Cold Environments
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1.2.1 Ecosystems
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1.3 Physical Landscapes in the UK
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1.3.1 UK Physical Landscapes
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1.3.2 Coastal Landscapes
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1.3.3 Coastal Landforms
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1.3.4 Coastal Management
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1.3.5 River Landscapes
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1.3.6 Fluvial Landforms
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1.3.7 River Management
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1.3.8 Glacial Landscapes
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1.3.9 Formation of Glacial Landforms
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1.3.10 Economic Activities and Management Strategies in Glaciated Upland Areas
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1.3.1 UK Physical Landscapes
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2.1 Urban Issues and Challenges
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2.2 The Changing Economic World
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2.3 The Challenge of Resource Management
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2.3.1 Food, Water and Energy
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2.3.2 Changing Demand and Provision of Resources in the UK
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2.3.3 Food: Food Resource Demand
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2.3.4 Food: Increasing Food Supply
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2.3.5 Water: Water Resource Demand
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2.3.6 Water: Increasing Water Supply
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2.3.7 Energy: Energy Resource Demand
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2.3.8 Energy: Increasing Energy Supply
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2.3.1 Food, Water and Energy
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3.1 Issue Evaluation
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3.2 Fieldwork
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4.1 Cartographic Skills
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4.2 Graphical Skills
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4.3 Numerical Skills
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4.4 Statistical Skills
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4.5 Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Data
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4.6 Formulate Enquiry and Argument
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4.7 Literacy
1. Living with the Physical Environment
1.1.3 Effects of and Responses to Tectonic Hazards
Tectonic hazards have primary and secondary effects, each often have their own immediate and long-term responses. The effects can also differ, particularly with inequality, we will explore what this can mean with the use of an example. You will only need to give examples of earthquakes or volcanoes, but not both.
Primary and Secondary Effects of Tectonic Hazards
Primary effects refer to the immediate and direct impacts of a tectonic hazard. They can include:
- Ground shaking and surface rupture during earthquakes, leading to infrastructure damage and collapse.
- Lava flows and pyroclastic flows during volcanic eruptions, destroying vegetation and infrastructure in their path.
Secondary effects are the indirect consequences that occur as a result of primary effects. They can include:
- Landslides, avalanches, or tsunamis triggered by earthquakes or volcanic activity, causing further destruction.
- Fires, floods, or contamination of water sources due to infrastructure damage, exacerbating the impacts of the initial hazard.
- DisplacementThe forced removal of people from their land. of populations, loss of livelihoods, and social disruptions.
Tsunamis can be triggered from a few sources, like weather patterns or large meteor or asteroid impacts, however, these are far more rare and you will not have to learn this in GCSE or A-Level, so as a rule of thumb, all tsunamis are triggered by an earthquake. Common Mistake
From the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a nuclear power plant facility in Fukushima was flooded, leading to a meltdown of three reactors, hydrogen explosions, and the release of radioactive material into the atmosphere and the ocean.Example
Some effects can be either primary or secondary depending on the circumstances. For example, death caused by collapsing buildings is a primary effect. Whereas, death caused by cholera caused by a contaminated water supply is a secondary effect because it is caused indirectly by the earthquake.Footnote
Immediate and Long-Term Responses to Tectonic Hazards
Immediate responses are actions taken immediately after a tectonic hazard occurs to address the urgent needs of affected communities. They can include:
- Emergency search and rescue operations to save lives and recover survivors.
- Provision of medical aid and emergency shelters to meet the basic needs of affected populations.
- Activation of early warning systems and evacuation plans to minimise casualties.
Long-term responses focus on the recovery, reconstruction, and prevention of future impacts. They can include:
- Rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as homes, schools, hospitals, and transportation networks.
- Implementing measures for hazard mitigation, such as constructing earthquake-resistant buildings or implementing land-use planning to reduce vulnerability.
- Enhancing community resilience through education, awareness campaigns, and training programs.
Trying to understand what a highly sophisticated government and country does in response to natural disasters can be confusing and overly complex. To simplify, try to imagine what the responses are if your street was exposed to an earthquake, flood, etc. What would you do in the moment, and what would you do months later? Chances are, they are very similar with what the government does, just on a much larger scale.Tip
Contrasting Effects and Responses in Areas of Contrasting Wealth
To illustrate how the effects and responses to tectonic hazards vary between areas with different levels of wealth, let’s consider two examples of earthquakes:
Haiti (Lower Income Country)
The 2010 Haiti earthquake (Richter magnitude 7.0) had devastating consequences due to the country’s limited resources and infrastructure. It resulted in widespread destruction, a high number of casualties, and significant economic and social impacts. 230,000 people died and a further 300,000 were injured. Buildings were damaged, costing around $8 billion.
Immediate responses involved international humanitarian aid, search and rescue operations, and temporary shelters. However, the long-term recovery process faced challenges due to limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and political instability.
Japan (Developed Country)
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions but has developed robust infrastructure and disaster preparedness measures. As a result, the impacts of tectonic hazards are often mitigated. For example, strict building codes and early warning systems minimise casualties and infrastructure damage in the 2011 earthquake. Even though the earthquake was stronger at a Richter magnitude of 9.0, only 19,000 people died and 6,000 injured.
Japan’s responses to tectonic hazards involve a well-coordinated approach, including efficient emergency response systems, advanced technology for monitoring and early detection, and comprehensive disaster management plans. Reconstruction efforts focus on rapid recovery and the implementation of measures to enhance resilience. 100 million soldiers were immediately mobilised to help with search and rescue missions.
