‘Seismic activity offshore will always present a greater threat to people than seismic activity on land.’

To what extent do you agree with this view?

AO1 – Knowledge and understanding of the impacts of seismic activity.

AO2 – Application of knowledge and understanding assessing the contrasting impact of tsunamis compared to seismic events on land.

Mark scheme

Level 3 (7–9 marks)

AO1 – Demonstrates detailed knowledge and understanding of concepts, processes, interactions and change. These underpin the response throughout.

AO2 – Applies knowledge and understanding appropriately with detail. Connections and relationships between different aspects of study are fully developed with complete relevance. Evaluation is detailed and well supported with appropriate evidence.

Notes for answers

AO1

The nature of seismicity and its relation to plate tectonics: forms of seismic hazard: earthquakes, shockwaves, tsunamis, liquefaction, landslides.
Spatial distribution, randomness, magnitude, frequency, regularity, predictability of hazard events.
Impacts: primary/secondary; environmental, social, economic, political. Short and long-term.
Responses; risk management designed to reduce the impacts of the hazard through preparedness, mitigation, prevention and adaptation.
Impacts and human responses as evidenced by a recent seismic event.

AO2

Candidate responses are likely to be heavily influenced by the exemplification and case study material. Clearly the answer to the question depends upon the event. Responses are free to argue either way, but assessment should be based upon evidence presented. Some may take a more theoretical approach without detailed reference to case study for either type of event. This is a legitimate approach.
Some may refer to events such as the Indian Ocean tsunami (December 26, 2004) or the the Japanese tsunami of 2011 (Tohoku).
For the seismic event, there are many potential case studies which candidates may draw from. Haiti (2010) and Christchurch, New Zealand (2011) may feature as contrasting LIC/HIC events.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was thought to result in a final death toll of 283 000, spread across at least eight countries. Around 1.7 million people were displaced. Indonesia was most badly affected. Coastal communities were decimated with many dying in the aftermath due to poor medical care and preventable illness and disease. It also travelled as far as 3000 miles to Africa and still arrived with enough force to kill people and destroy property.
The risk of famine and epidemic diseases is extremely high immediately following a tsunami – bodies rotting in the tropical heat, contaminated food and water sources as well as the longer term issues of crop destruction.
In contrast an event such as Haiti 2010 killed a similar number of people at around 230 000. A number of factors were responsible for such a high death toll. The main issues was the inadequate design of many of the old decaying buildings in Haiti.
Around 3 million people were directly affected by the earthquake with 1 in 5 people losing their jobs because so many buildings were destroyed. Haiti’s largest industry, clothing, was one of the worst affected.
250 000 homes and 30 000 other buildings, including the President’s Palace and 60% of government buildings, were either destroyed or badly damaged. The large number of deaths meant that hospitals and morgues became full and bodies then had to be piled up on the streets.
Transport and communication links were also badly damaged by the earthquake. The large number of bodies meant that diseases, especially cholera, became a serious problem.
Hospitals (50+) and schools (1300+) were badly damaged, as was the airport’s control tower. It was difficult getting aid into the area because of issues at the airport and generally poor management of the situation.
Clearly this event caused widespread, short- and long-term damage. However, it was not just the event, it was also the economic status of the country which exacerbated the impact.
Some may argue that tsunamis occur less frequently than seismic events on land; also that the areas they can affect are always relatively narrow coastal belts. Others may point to the coastal defences and early warning systems now in place since some of the major events in recent years. Sea walls and public address systems can help to mitigate the worst impacts of tsunamis. Nevertheless in 2018 another tsunami hit Indonesia and the early warning system failed to alert authorities to the tsunami which killed approximately 500 people.

Either position is acceptable as long as it is coherently argued.

Seismic Hazards (AQA A Level Geography)

Topic Questions