Unit 4 Geographical Investigations - Tectonic Activity and Hazards

The unit is examined in a 1hour 30 minute paper, for which you answer ONE question. Your answer will be in the form of a report/essay and you will receive specific instruction in how to write this report a few weeks into the course. There is only one question for each topic, so that you have no choice and you must be able to demonstrate a wide knowledge of the whole of the topic. It is proposed that all students sit this examination In January.

Advance Information and Questions

The research focus idea will be pre-released 4 working weeks before the examination via the Edexcel website. The question is marked out of 70 marks. Sample Advance information The physical causes and effects of tectonic hazards, and responses to them. Question Discuss the relationship between the nature of tectonic hazards and human response to them. January 2010 Advance Information Explore the types and levels of challenge posed by varying forms of tectonic activity. Research contrasting locations to draw out the range of tectonic activity and the different impacts produced on communities. Question Tectonic activity poses varying degrees of challenge for the communities experiencing it. Discuss. June 2010 Advance information Explore the range of tectonic event profiles and how these and other factors affect the responses of people and governments. Research contrasting locations and hazard events to draw out the range of tectonic activity and the different responses generated. Question Tectonic hazard profiles determine the way in which people and governments respond to hazards. Discuss Research Methods This paper is designed to test your research methods as well as your knowledge, so that you are expected to show understanding of the following: Methods of research and finding secondary sources. Appropriate primary data collection methods. The ability to evaluate the authenticity, authority and credibility of sources of information. The organisations that produce data on your topic. The type of data presented on maps, charts and in databases spatial, real-time, predictions, indices, percentages etc. 1

Types of sampling, size of sample used to obtain the data, if possible and how representative they are. The ability to introduce synoptic knowledge (outside the immediate topic)

The Specification from Edexcel

Tectonic Activities and Hazards List of Topics

Summer Term Week Topics 1 1 Tectonic Hazards and causes. The different types of tectonic activity associated with different types of plate boundaries. The role of the lithosphere, asthenosphere and convection currents 2 The causes of tectonic hazards the processes operating at each of the 5 types of plate boundary and the links between them constructive, destructive (cordilleran), conservative, island-arc, collisional and examples of each. Hot spots and mantle plumes. Can these tectonic processes bring benefits? 3 The frequency, magnitude, duration and areal extent of hazards. Hazard profiles. Mass movement hazards 4 Further definitions and terms used in hazard geography. Research case study of the Asian Tsunami as a global hazard 5 Research the causes and impacts of a recent volcanic eruption on people and environment Autumn Term Week Topic 1 2 Tectonic hazard physical impacts Types of extrusive volcanic activity and the resulting landforms (lava flows and tunnels, ash deposits, lahars etc) Flood basalts and supervolcanoes. Research one fissure eruption, one explosive eruption, one shield volcano (Hawaiian) 2 Relate types of eruption to tectonic situation and processes operating at each. Research tectonic processes and magma being formed. 3 Types of intrusive igneous features batholith, sill, dyke, ring dyke, conesheet, volcanic vent and the landforms which they form after erosion 4 The types of stresses which result in faulting and folding. Types of faults and resultant landforms lateral faults, rift valleys and block mountains. Landforms resulting from compression fold mountains, nappes and thrust faults. 5 3 Tectonic hazard human impacts The reasons why people live in tectonically active areas climate, farming, economic activity, megacities, minerals, geothermal energy etc. Research examples of these eg Tokyo, Iceland, Naples. 6&7 Range of hazards and impacts on people primary and secondary effects on society, environment, economy etc Research case studies in MEDCs, NICs and LEDCs 8 Trends in frequency and impact of geophysical hazards over time, the Park model of response. Timed essay 9 4 Response to tectonic hazards How response is related to economic level (vulnerability and the risk equation) and the organisations involved in the response eg Izmit earthquake, Turkey 10 The strategies used in adjusting to living with hazards eg prediction, evacuation, building construction. Research the technology used in monitoring, prediction, rescue, construction. 11 Evaluation of the strategies used above Summary of the unit 12 Timed essay practice and revision 13 Timed essay practice and revision 6

Resources
Here are a few important resources to help get you started: Books 551.2 BIS 551.2 CON 551.2 GUI 551.2 MCG 551.2 NAG 551.2 ROS 551.2 ROS 551.2 SCA 551.2 SKI 551.2 551.2 WIJ 910 910 Websites 1. Volcano World http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/types-volcanoes Hazards and responses (3 copies) Bishop, Victoria Forces of nature Constable, George Guinness book of Amazing Nature Apocalypse : a natural history of global disasters McGuire, Bill Hazards Nagle, Garrett Earthquakes : our trembling planet Rose, Susanna van Volcanoes Rose, Susanna van Savage earth (2 copies) Scarth, Alwyn Hazards (4 copies) Skinner, Malcolm Geological Science McLeish Natural Disasters: Acts of God or Acts of Man? Wijkman, A. An Integrated Geography, 2nd or 3rd edition Waugh, David A2 Geography, 2001 Bowen and Pallister

2. How Volcanoes Work volcanic landforms http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/landforms.html 3. US Geological Survey - links to factsheets on main hazard types and the fun stuff to access virtual filedtrips http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/ 4. Geography Pages http://www.geographypages.co.uk/tectonic.htm useful links

5. Volcanoes.com http://www/.volcanoes.com/ - use this to research specific types of volcanoes 6. Schools Seismology Project - list of latest quakes http://www.bgs.ac.uk/schoolSeismology/app/schoolSeismology.cfc? method=viewLatestQuake 7. British Geological Survey earthquake page http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/ -recent quakes in UK and links to other recent tectonic hazards 8. Tsunamis how they form and how to be prepared http://www.ess.washington.edu/tsunami/index.html 9. Lancaster University (Chris Parks pages) on hazards, especially prediction and response http://www.lancs.ac.uk/staff/gyaccp/hazards/ 10. Iceland website on main volcanoes http://iceland.vefur.is/iceland_nature/geology_of_iceland/index.htm 7

DVDs and Estream In the Geography Dept and/or the library 551.2 551.2 551.2 551.2 551.2 551.2 551.2 MON 551.46 Savage earth : hell's crust (DVD) Krakatoa (DVD) 10 things you didn't know about earthquakes (DVD and Estream) 10 things you didn't know about volcanoes (DVD and Estream) Supervolcano: the Truth About Yellowstone [DVD] Why can't we predict earthquakes? (Horizon) [DVD] Montserrat's Andesite Volcano ( video ) [video cassette only] 2004 Tsunami: anatomy of a disaster (DVD)

Monserrat eruption 1998 Above the volcano (Video in Geog Dept) Turkish earthquake Izmit 1999 (Video in Geog Dept) Estream only To use Estream run Explorer and type video1 into the url box Japan Earthquake: Horizon special I. Stewart on the big one in March 2011 Japans tsunami how it happened March 2011. Bang Goes the Theory Part 1 science behind quake and tsunami in Japan Moodle Geography and Geology pages

Methods of Working
1. Decide what you need to know by posing yourself some questions, so that you have an objective for each task and lesson 2. Always select information and seek to classify it by mapping it, putting into a table, arranging notes under headings 3. Never cut and paste or print off articles in their entirely 4. Carry a memory stick 5. Use the library to access a range of resources articles, books, newspapers 6. Your notes need to be easy to revise from and in your own words, as far as possible, so use headings, underline key terms, highlight important ideas 7. Include diagrams, maps and drawings 8. Keep a glossary of terms which you meet 9. Keep a bibliography (list of sources) all the time you are researching with the name of the organisation or the author and the date of publication. You should copy and paste web addresses (urls) and record what information the web pages provide. 10. Research case studies, especially current events 11. Complete research and homework every week do not procrastinate!

Always be methodical about recording and keep your paper filed carefully! Then you will be on the road to success! Good luck!

Unit 4 Research Record complete this after each lesson

Date Research topic Summary of information Sources used

10

Date

Research topic

Summary of information

Sources used

11