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Topic title: The Challenge of Natural Hazards

Year group: 12

When taught: September to January

What are we learning?

The concept of hazard in a geographical context

  • Nature, forms and potential impacts of natural hazards (geophysical, atmospheric and hydrological).
  • Hazard perception and its economic and cultural determinants.
  • Human responses – fatalism, prediction, adjustment/adaptation, mitigation, management, risk sharing – and their relationship to hazard incidence, intensity, magnitude, distribution and level of development.
  • The Park model of human response to hazards.
  • The Hazard Management Cycle.

Plate tectonics

  • Earth structure and internal energy sources
  • Plate tectonic theory
  • Plate margins and associated landforms
  • Magma plumes and their relationship to plate movement

Volcanic hazards

  • The nature of vulcanicity and volcanic hazards
  • Spatial distribution, magnitude, frequency, regularity and predictability of hazard events
  • Impacts and human responses as evidenced by a recent volcanic event

Seismic hazards

  • The nature of seismicity and seismic hazards
  • Spatial distribution, randomness, magnitude, frequency, regularity, predictability of hazard events
  • Impacts and human responses as evidenced by a recent seismic event

Storm hazards

  • The nature and causes of tropical storms
  • Forms of storm hazards
  • Spatial distribution, magnitude, frequency, regularity, predictability of hazard events
  • Impacts and human responses as evidenced by two recent tropical storms in contrasting areas of the world

Fires in nature

  • Nature of wildfires and the conditions favouring intense wildfires
  • Causes of fires
  • Impact and human responses as evidenced by a recent wildfire event

Case studies

  • Multi-hazardous environment beyond the UK to illustrate and analyse the nature of the hazards and the social, economic and environmental risks presented, and how human qualities and responses such as resilience, adaptation, mitigation and management contribute to its continuing human occupation.
  • Local scale of a specified place in a hazardous setting to illustrate the physical nature of the hazard and analyse how the economic, social and political character of its community reflects the presence and impacts of the hazard and the community’s response to the risk.

Why is this important to know? 

  • Humans interact with Earth’s physical processes in a variety of places and at a range of scales. Natural hazards impact millions of people each year and can have severe social, economic and environmental consequences.
  • The impacts of natural hazards impact populations on differing spatial and temporal scales.
  • An understanding of the dynamic nature of Earth’s physical processes and systems is needed to be able to explain the resultant landforms and features in different environments.
  • Considers the direct and indirect effects of human interaction with the Earth. This includes students’ own interaction i.e. their own carbon footprint and how this link with extreme weather events.

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

  • This topic links to and deepens knowledge gained during Year 8 (Climate Change), Year 9 (Tectonic Hazards) and Year 11 (The Challenge of Natural Hazards).
  • This topic links the physical elements of natural hazards, with the human influence of development status (studied in Year 8, 9 and 11).
  • Aspects of this topic link with the Carbon and Water topic, studied in Year 13.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • Assessment and feedback throughout the topic, through the use of past paper questions. A mid unit test and Paper 1 mock exam will support this. The topic will then be assessed within the AS and A level exams sat at the end of Year 12 and 13.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?

  • Strong AO1 – knowledge of the key concepts and theories, balanced with the ability to apply them with accuracy to a question
  • Strong AO3 – analysis and evaluation of the theory, case studies and resources presented (seen in lesson and unseen (exam paper based))
  • Synoptic linking and thinking – being able to see the connective tissue between (and within) the units we cover.
  • Being able to bring in and demonstrate a relevant wider understanding, developed through wider reading and research, within written responses.
  • Use detailed case study knowledge in support of points in 9 and 20 mark responses
  • A knowledge of the different question styles and the ability to tailor your responses to this.

What key words are there in this topic?

Subject specific vocabulary (aqa.org.uk)

Glossary of Definitions – Hazards – AQA Geography A-level.pdf (physicsandmathstutor.com)

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

  • Regularly re-read and review your work. Use the specification to help make revision notes for each section.
  • Consolidate class notes by using the available textbooks.
  • Complete past exam questions on this unit. These can be found at AQA | Geography | A Level | A-level Geography
  • Watch or read the news – natural hazards are very topical and frequently in the news.
  • Engage in videos/podcasts/blogs etc that cover natural hazards, hazard management, specific countries / events.

What wider reading can be done on this topic?

As Aftershocks Rattle Southern California, a More Powerful Earthquake Could Soon Strike, Experts Warn (2019) by Yasemin Saplakoglu – As Aftershocks Rattle Southern California, a More Powerful Earthquake Could Soon Strike, Experts Warn | Live Science

Natural Hazards and Disaster Management (2018) by Dr. Radhika Kapur – (PDF) Natural Hazards and Disaster Management (researchgate.net)

There is no such thing as a natural disaster (2006) by Chester Hartman and Gregory D Squires (about the New Orleans flood).

Fragile Earth by Claire Llewellyn. Click here.

Earth-shaking facts about Earthquakes: with Max Axiom, super scientist by Katherine Krohn. Click here.

Violent Earth. Click here.

Climate Change by Mark A Maslin. Click here.

+ lots of useful articles from the BBC website, The Guardian, National Geographic etc

Supporting document/links:

Found on Satchel – My Drive – A Level – Geography

  • File check lists
  • Key words
  • Specification
  • Key lesson resources