The Challenge of Natural Hazards

OCR

GCSE

A rigorous analysis of the lithosphere's dynamic nature, focusing on the geophysical mechanisms driving plate tectonics (slab pull, ridge push, convection) and the resultant seismic and volcanic hazards. The study necessitates a critical evaluation of the hazard-risk equation, emphasizing how human factors—specifically governance, development levels, and population density—modify vulnerability and resilience. Candidates must assess the efficacy of management strategies across the Hazard Management Cycle and the Park Model of Response.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Credit the explicit distinction between oceanic and continental crust properties (density, thickness) when explaining subduction processes.
Award marks for linking the depth of the focus directly to the intensity of surface shaking; shallow focus equates to higher potential damage.
Candidates must evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies by contrasting 'hard' engineering (retrofitting) with 'soft' approaches (education/drills).
Credit analysis that attributes differential impacts in LICs vs HICs to specific factors like building codes and emergency response capacity, not just general wealth.

Example Examiner Feedback

Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

"You identified the plate boundary, but failed to explain the specific mechanism (convection currents/slab pull) causing the movement."
"Case study detail is generic; include specific magnitudes, death tolls, or economic costs to access Level 3 marks."
"The evaluation of management strategies is unbalanced; acknowledge the limitations of the strategy (e.g., cost, technical expertise), not just the benefits."
"Directly reference the figure provided in your answer (e.g., 'As shown in Figure 2...') before applying your own knowledge to explain the pattern."

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Credit the explicit distinction between oceanic and continental crust properties (density, thickness) when explaining subduction processes.
Award marks for linking the depth of the focus directly to the intensity of surface shaking; shallow focus equates to higher potential damage.
Candidates must evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies by contrasting 'hard' engineering (retrofitting) with 'soft' approaches (education/drills).
Credit analysis that attributes differential impacts in LICs vs HICs to specific factors like building codes and emergency response capacity, not just general wealth.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡In 8-mark 'Assess' questions, dedicate the final paragraph to a justified conclusion that weighs the relative importance of the factors discussed.
💡When describing distribution on a map, use specific compass directions and name specific tectonic plates (e.g., Nazca, Eurasian) rather than general continents.
💡Do not simply list impacts; categorize them into social, economic, and environmental to demonstrate structural understanding and maximize AO2 marks.
💡Ensure case study statistics are precise; 'thousands died' is insufficient compared to 'approximately 9,000 fatalities' to demonstrate command of evidence.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing the characteristics of composite volcanoes (steep, explosive, high viscosity) with shield volcanoes (gentle, effusive, low viscosity).
Describing plate movement as simply 'floating on magma' rather than being driven by specific mechanisms like convection currents, slab pull, and ridge push.
Failing to distinguish between the Mercalli Scale (subjective intensity/damage) and the Moment Magnitude Scale (energy released).
Conflating 'prediction' (forecasting when/where) with 'preparation' (stockpiling supplies, evacuation planning).

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Describe

Explain

Assess

Evaluate

To what extent

Calculate

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