Tectonic Hazards
Tectonic hazards are natural hazards, principally earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, caused by the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates at plate boundaries.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the three types of plate boundary (constructive, destructive and conservative) and the movement and hazard typically associated with each.
- Sort the effects of a tectonic hazard into primary effects, caused directly by the ground shaking or eruption, and secondary effects, which are knock-on consequences that often happen later.
- Sort responses to a tectonic hazard into immediate responses, in the hours and days afterwards, and long-term responses, over the following months and years.
- Compare a named tectonic hazard in a wealthier (high-income) country with one in a poorer (low-income or lower-middle-income) country, using figures to support each comparison point.
- Learn how monitoring and prediction, building design, and education and evacuation planning each reduce the risk to people from tectonic hazards.
- Practise interpreting a labelled cross-section of a plate boundary and short data tables comparing two tectonic events.
Worked example
The magnitude scale used for earthquakes is logarithmic: each whole-number increase represents about 10 times more ground shaking. Compare an earthquake of magnitude 3 with an earthquake of magnitude 6. Calculate how many times more ground shaking the magnitude 6 earthquake produces.
- Find the difference in magnitude between the two earthquakes: 6 - 3 = 3.
- Recall that each whole-number step up the scale means about 10 times more ground shaking.
- Because there are 3 steps, multiply 10 by itself three times: 10 x 10 x 10.
- Calculate: 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000.
- State the final answer: the magnitude 6 earthquake produces about 1000 times more ground shaking than the magnitude 3 earthquake.
Practice questions
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Q1Name the type of plate boundary at which the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is found.Show answer
Answer: A constructive (divergent) plate boundary.
Q2Name the deep depression that typically forms in the ocean floor where an oceanic plate is subducted beneath another plate.Show answer
Answer: An ocean trench.
Q3Classify the following as a primary or secondary effect of a volcanic eruption: crops are destroyed by a thick layer of falling ash.Show answer
Answer: A secondary effect.
Q4Classify the following as an immediate or long-term response to a volcanic eruption: an exclusion zone is set up and nearby residents are evacuated.Show answer
Answer: An immediate response.
Q5State one advantage of accurate volcano monitoring and eruption prediction for nearby communities.Show answer
Answer: It gives time to evacuate people from the danger area before the eruption happens, which can reduce deaths and injuries.
Q6An earthquake measures magnitude 4 on the logarithmic magnitude scale, where each whole-number increase represents about 10 times more ground shaking. A second earthquake produces about 10,000 times more shaking than this one. Calculate the magnitude of the second earthquake.Show answer
Answer: Magnitude 8 (10,000 = 10 x 10 x 10 x 10, so the magnitude increases by 4 whole-number steps: 4 + 4 = 8).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Geography exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Explain the difference between how a national-scale earthquake early-warning system and building-scale earthquake-resistant design each reduce the risk to people from an earthquake.
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A government with a limited hazard-reduction budget is deciding whether to fund (i) a national earthquake early-warning system, or (ii) grants to help homeowners retrofit poorly built homes in high-risk areas. Justify which of these two options you would prioritise in a low-income country with a large number of vulnerable, poorly built homes, giving ONE reason for your choice.
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See real GCSE Geography past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the tectonic hazards worksheet pack - 11 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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