Exam Questions- Physical Geography

Question 1

Assess the view that the social and economic impacts of earthquakes are mainly the result of their magnitude (12)

Answer 1

Answer:
A01
- The magnitude and intensity can be measured using different scales (moment, mercalli)
- Hazard profiles ( magnitude, speed of onset, duration, spatial predictability)are important in understanding the severity of social and economic impacts in developed, emerging and developing countries
- inequality of access to education, housing, healthcare and income opportunities can influence vulnerability and resilience
- Governance and geographical factors (population density, urbanisation) influence vulnerability and a community’s resilience
- Contrasting hazard events in developed, emerging and developing countries to show the interaction of physical factors and the significance of context in influencing the scale of disaster

A02: Case studies
- Monseratt
- Haiti
- Japan
- E15