This optional theme focuses on geophysical hazard events. This includes internal earth processes, such as earthquakes and volcanic activity. It also encompasses mass movements such as landslides, rockslides, debris or mud flows. The theme also includes human impacts and responses. Case studies of contrasting geophysical hazard events need to be undertaken (“contrasting” can be interpreted as severity of impacts and/or locations with different socio-economic realities):
two earthquake hazard events of similar magnitudes but with contrasting human impacts
two volcanic hazard events in contrasting plate boundary locations
two mass movement hazard events with contrasting physical characteristics (fast/slow; solid/loose).
Through study of this optional theme, students will develop their understanding of processes, places, power and geographic possibilities.
They will additionally gain understanding of more specialized concepts including risk and vulnerability (both of which vary according to the local context) and also resilience and adaptation (in relation to pre-event and post-event disaster management).
two earthquake hazard events of similar magnitudes but with contrasting human impacts
two volcanic hazard events in contrasting plate boundary locations
two mass movement hazard events with contrasting physical characteristics (fast/slow; solid/loose).
Through study of this optional theme, students will develop their understanding of processes, places, power and geographic possibilities.
They will additionally gain understanding of more specialized concepts including risk and vulnerability (both of which vary according to the local context) and also resilience and adaptation (in relation to pre-event and post-event disaster management).
Synthesis Thinking - What connections can you spot between geophysical hazards and human populations together with other areas of the IB DP Geography course?
