Earthquakes, processes, hazards and their impacts

Earthquakes are sudden, violent shaking of the ground caused by the release of stress along faults in the Earth's crust. This topic explores the processes that generate earthquakes, including plate tectonics, elastic rebound theory, and the role of fault types (normal, reverse, strike-slip). You'll learn how seismic waves (P, S, surface waves) propagate and cause ground shaking, leading to primary and secondary hazards such as liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, and fires. Understanding these processes is crucial for predicting impacts and designing mitigation strategies.

The impacts of earthquakes vary greatly depending on magnitude, depth, distance from epicentre, local geology, and human factors like building standards and preparedness. In the WJEC A-Level Geography course, you'll study case studies from developed (e.g., 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand) and developing (e.g., 2010 Haiti) countries to compare vulnerability, resilience, and recovery. This topic links to broader themes of hazard management, risk perception, and sustainable development, helping you understand why some societies suffer more than others.

Mastering earthquakes is essential for understanding plate tectonics as a whole. It connects to volcanic activity, tsunami generation, and the formation of landforms. For your exams, you'll need to evaluate the effectiveness of prediction, protection, and preparedness strategies, and critically assess the role of technology and governance in reducing disaster risk. This knowledge is not just academic—it saves lives in earthquake-prone regions worldwide.