What you will need to know in Unit 4.4...
4.4.1 Primary and secondary responses.
4.4.2 An evaluation of the strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: monitoring, prediction, protection, planning and technology.
4.4.3 One detailed specific example to include: • the causes and impacts of an earthquake on a named country/area • the responses to the earthquake • the strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of earthquakes.
4.4.4 One detailed specific example to include: • the causes and impacts of an eruption of a named volcano • the responses to the volcanic eruption • the strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of volcanic eruptions.
4.4.2 An evaluation of the strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: monitoring, prediction, protection, planning and technology.
4.4.3 One detailed specific example to include: • the causes and impacts of an earthquake on a named country/area • the responses to the earthquake • the strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of earthquakes.
4.4.4 One detailed specific example to include: • the causes and impacts of an eruption of a named volcano • the responses to the volcanic eruption • the strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of volcanic eruptions.
4.4.1 Primary and secondary responses
Responses to tectonic hazards can be divided into primary and secondary responses.
Primary responses are the immediate actions taken during and straight after an event, such as search and rescue, emergency medical care, and providing temporary shelter, food, and clean water.
Secondary responses are longer-term actions that take place weeks, months, or years later. These include rebuilding homes and infrastructure, restoring services, rehousing displaced people, and improving future preparedness.
The effectiveness of responses often depends on a country’s level of development, access to technology, and speed of decision-making.
Task 1 - Using the worksheet below, complete the activities set out. The focus of this worksheet is improving your exam question answering technique.
Primary responses are the immediate actions taken during and straight after an event, such as search and rescue, emergency medical care, and providing temporary shelter, food, and clean water.
Secondary responses are longer-term actions that take place weeks, months, or years later. These include rebuilding homes and infrastructure, restoring services, rehousing displaced people, and improving future preparedness.
The effectiveness of responses often depends on a country’s level of development, access to technology, and speed of decision-making.
Task 1 - Using the worksheet below, complete the activities set out. The focus of this worksheet is improving your exam question answering technique.
4.4.2 An evaluation of the strategies and techniques used to
manage the impacts of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions...
The impacts of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can be reduced using a range of management strategies. These include monitoring and prediction, protection, planning, and technology. Monitoring uses instruments to detect early warning signs, while prediction helps authorities prepare or evacuate populations. Protection includes earthquake-resistant buildings and lava diversion methods. Planning involves education, evacuation routes, and emergency drills. Technology plays a key role in communication, transport, and medical response. However, these strategies are not equally effective everywhere, and earthquakes and eruptions cannot be prevented, meaning management can reduce impacts but not eliminate risk.
Task 2 - Watch the video above. You do not need to take notes. Now download the worksheet below and complete the activities set out, including the two assessment tasks at the end.
4.4.3 One detailed specific example - Earthquake in Morocco 2023
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On 8 September 2023, a powerful earthquake struck central Morocco, near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz province. The event registered a magnitude of 6.8, making it the strongest earthquake in the country in decades and one of the deadliest in recent North African history. The shallow focus caused violent shaking, destroying homes, schools, and infrastructure in the High Atlas Mountains and surrounding areas. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and thousands more injured, with hundreds of villages and historic districts severely damaged. The quake was felt as far away as Spain and Algeria.
IST students: The earthquake caused devastation in the town of Asni where our partner school 'Education For All' is located. The boarding houses that had been built by Mike McHugo and his team were completely destroyed. This area of the High Atlas was the worst impacted. Mr Podbury & a group of 22 IST students visited Morocco and EFA in October 2024. Some of you will go to the area on a future trip. |
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Task: Creating a detailed earthquake case study - Using YouTube as the main source of info.
You are going to create a detailed example of an earthquake that meets the requirements of the IGCSE Geography syllabus.
Your case study must be clearly organised under the headings below.
Step 1: Identify the earthquake. Start by naming the earthquake you are studying.
Include:
Step 2: Explain the causes of the earthquake. Describe why the earthquake happened (use the first video below).
You should include:
Use geographical terms such as fault, plate boundary, and seismic energy.
You are going to create a detailed example of an earthquake that meets the requirements of the IGCSE Geography syllabus.
Your case study must be clearly organised under the headings below.
Step 1: Identify the earthquake. Start by naming the earthquake you are studying.
Include:
- The country and location
- The date of the earthquake
- The magnitude
Step 2: Explain the causes of the earthquake. Describe why the earthquake happened (use the first video below).
You should include:
- The tectonic plates involved
- The type of plate movement
- The depth of the focus (if known)
Use geographical terms such as fault, plate boundary, and seismic energy.
Step 3: Describe the impacts of the earthquake (use the BBC video below & drone footage video).
Explain the effects of the earthquake, using specific examples.
You must include:
Try to include facts or figures where possible.
Explain the effects of the earthquake, using specific examples.
You must include:
- Primary impacts (immediate effects, e.g. building collapse due to mud bricks, deaths)
- Secondary impacts (longer-term effects, e.g. homelessness, economic damage)
Try to include facts or figures where possible.
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Step 4: Describe the responses to the earthquake
Explain how people and governments responded to the earthquake.
Include:
- Primary responses (immediate actions such as search and rescue, emergency aid.
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- Secondary responses (longer-term actions such as rebuilding and rehousing)
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Step 5: Explain how the impacts were managed
The Moroccan government used a range of strategies to manage the impacts of the 2023 earthquake, although some were more effective than others.
Monitoring
Morocco has a national seismic monitoring network, which helped authorities quickly locate the epicentre and assess the severity of the earthquake. This allowed emergency services to be deployed rapidly to the worst affected areas, reducing delays in rescue operations.
Prediction
Earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted, so the government was unable to warn people before the event. This limited the effectiveness of prediction and meant that many people were indoors when the earthquake struck, increasing casualties.
Protection
In rural areas of the High Atlas Mountains, many buildings were made from unreinforced stone and mud brick, offering little protection. However, in larger cities where stronger building regulations existed, fewer buildings collapsed, reducing deaths and injuries.
Planning
Emergency planning helped coordinate search and rescue operations, temporary shelters, and food distribution. However, the remote and mountainous location of many villages made access difficult, limiting the effectiveness of planning in some areas.
Technology
Technology such as helicopters, drones, and mobile communication was used to reach isolated communities, assess damage, and deliver aid. This helped speed up rescue efforts and improve coordination between emergency services.
Exam-style essay question (7 marks)
Assess the extent to which management strategies reduced the impacts of the 2023 Morocco earthquake. [7]
4.4.4 One detailed specific example - Volcano in Iceland 2023-25
Since December 2023, the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland has experienced a series of volcanic eruptions close to the fishing town of Grindavík, marking a notable increase in activity after centuries of quiet. These eruptions have occurred along the Sundhnúkur crater row, with at least nine eruptions between late 2023 and mid-2025. Although many were relatively short-lived, the repeated episodes of lava flows, ground deformation, and gas emission have led to precautionary evacuations, infrastructure damage, and long-term disruption for residents. The pattern of frequent eruptions highlights the volcanic nature of the Reykjanes region and the ongoing hazard it poses.
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Task: Creating a detailed volcanic eruption case study
You are going to produce a detailed example of a volcanic eruption that meets the syllabus requirements.
Your case study must be clearly organised using the headings below.
Step 1: Identify the volcanic eruption
Begin by clearly naming the eruption.
Include:
- The name of the volcano or volcanic area (e.g. Reykjanes Peninsula near Grindavík)
- The country
- The date(s) of the eruption(s)
- The type of eruption (e.g. fissure eruption)
Step 2: Explain the causes of the eruption
Describe why the eruption occurred.
You should include:
- The tectonic setting (e.g. constructive plate boundary in Iceland) - include a good quality map.
- The movement of the North American and Eurasian plates
- How magma rose through fissures
Use geographical terms such as magma, plate boundary, rift, and fissure.
Use this information sheet copied from a the blog at this site: https://www.camperrentaliceland.com/blog/culture/tectonic-plates
Source: Wikipedia
Step 3: Describe the impacts of the eruption
Explain the effects of the eruption on people, the economy, and the environment.
You must include:
Try to include specific detail, such as effects on Grindavík or nearby infrastructure.
Explain the effects of the eruption on people, the economy, and the environment.
You must include:
- Primary impacts (e.g. lava flows, gas emissions, damage to roads or buildings)
- Secondary impacts (e.g. evacuations, disruption to livelihoods, long-term uncertainty)
Try to include specific detail, such as effects on Grindavík or nearby infrastructure.
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Step 4: Describe the responses to the eruption
Explain how people and authorities responded to the eruption.
Include:
- Primary responses (e.g. evacuation of residents, emergency services, road closures)
- Secondary responses (e.g. ongoing monitoring, financial support, long-term relocation plans)
Focus on what was done immediately and what happened later.
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Step 5: Explain how the impacts were managed
Describe the strategies and techniques used to manage volcanic risk and reduce impacts.
You should refer to two or more of the following:
Explain how each strategy helped reduce risk or impacts, not just what it involved. This link will be very useful for you.
Describe the strategies and techniques used to manage volcanic risk and reduce impacts.
You should refer to two or more of the following:
- Monitoring (e.g. seismic activity, gas measurements, ground deformation)
- Prediction (e.g. identifying warning signs and issuing alerts)
- Protection (e.g. lava barriers, exclusion zones)
- Planning (e.g. evacuation plans, hazard mapping)
- Technology (e.g. satellites, drones, communication systems)
Explain how each strategy helped reduce risk or impacts, not just what it involved. This link will be very useful for you.
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Exam-style essay question (7 marks)
Assess the extent to which management strategies have reduced the impacts of the recent volcanic eruptions affecting Grindavík in Iceland. [7]
A mark scheme is available using the tab below.
Assess the extent to which management strategies have reduced the impacts of the recent volcanic eruptions affecting Grindavík in Iceland. [7]
A mark scheme is available using the tab below.
