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11
2
sophie
09/12/2025
Geography
A Level Geography Hazards
600
•
9 Dec 2025
•
Comprehensive AQA A Level Geography Hazards Notes
sophie
@sophiefreyaa
1 / 10
Course Overview and Natural Hazards Introduction
Your physical geography journey through natural hazards covers massive ground - from the theory behind plate tectonics to real disaster case studies like the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Hurricane Katrina. This isn't just memorising facts; you're learning to analyse why disasters happen and how humans respond.
A natural hazard is any event that threatens people, buildings, or the environment. Think volcanoes (tectonic), hurricanes (atmospheric), floods (geomorphological), or wildfires (biological). What makes this fascinating is that the same earthquake can devastate Haiti but cause minimal damage in Japan - it's all about preparation and wealth.
People live in risky places for surprisingly logical reasons. Volcanic soil is brilliant for farming, tourist hotspots bring money, and sometimes there simply aren't alternatives. Your perception of risk also depends on your education, wealth, and what other problems you're facing.
Key Insight: A 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed thousands in Haiti (2010), whilst a 9.2 magnitude quake in Japan (2011) had far fewer casualties. Infrastructure and preparation matter more than the hazard's size.
Hazard Management and Case Studies
Park's Response Model shows how communities bounce back from disasters through predictable stages: disruption hits, things get worse before they improve, then recovery begins through search and rescue, relief efforts, and finally reconstruction. This model explains why some places recover quickly whilst others struggle for years.
The key is integrated risk management - combining prediction, preparedness, and response strategies. Primary effects happen immediately (ground shaking, lava flows), whilst secondary effects follow later (tsunamis, fires, economic collapse). Smart planning addresses both.
Your case studies span the globe: Merapi volcano (2010) shows how even well-monitored volcanoes can cause chaos, whilst comparing earthquake responses in Japan versus Nepal reveals how wealth and infrastructure save lives. Hurricane case studies demonstrate how the same storm can have vastly different impacts depending on preparation.
Multi-hazardous environments like Japan face multiple threats simultaneously - earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and typhoons all threaten the same communities, requiring incredibly sophisticated management strategies.
Exam Tip: Always compare HICs and LICs in your answers - the same magnitude hazard typically has vastly different impacts based on a country's development level and preparedness.
Plate Tectonic Theory Fundamentals
Alfred Wegener's 1912 theory started with a simple observation: South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces. His supercontinent Pangaea split into Gondwanaland (south) and Laurasia (north), explaining why identical fossils appear on different continents and why Scotland's rocks match eastern Canada's perfectly.
Destructive plate boundaries create the most dramatic hazards. When dense oceanic crust meets lighter continental crust, the oceanic plate gets dragged down (slab pull), creating earthquakes and explosive volcanoes. The Indonesian subduction zone perfectly demonstrates this process in action.
Conservative boundaries like California's San Andreas Fault involve plates grinding past each other horizontally. Pressure builds until the plates suddenly slip, releasing shallow but potentially powerful earthquakes. Constructive boundaries pull apart, creating new ocean floor and generally gentler volcanic activity.
Understanding these boundaries isn't just theory - they explain why earthquakes cluster along specific lines, why some volcanoes explode whilst others gently flow, and why certain regions face multiple hazard types.
Remember This: Continental crust is older, thicker, and lighter than oceanic crust - this density difference drives subduction and explains why oceanic plates always sink beneath continental ones.
Volcanic Hazards and Real Impacts
Volcanoes kill through multiple mechanisms, not just lava flows. Pyroclastic flows race downhill at over 800°C, whilst lahars (volcanic mudflows) can travel for miles down river valleys. The 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption created lahars that destroyed the entire town of Armero, killing three-quarters of its population.
Tephra (volcanic debris) ranges from massive bombs to fine ash that can collapse roofs and disrupt air travel. Volcanic gases like carbon dioxide can be deadly - Lake Nyos in Cameroon released CO₂ that suffocated 1,700 people in 1986. Secondary effects include tsunamis, flooding from melted ice, and even climate change from ash blocking sunlight.
The 2010 Merapi eruption in Indonesia demonstrates modern volcanic impacts. Despite monitoring and evacuation plans, pyroclastic flows killed over 300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. The VEI 3 eruption affected agriculture, tourism, and air travel across Southeast Asia.
Responses varied from immediate search and rescue to long-term reconstruction. International aid helped, but local community resilience proved crucial for recovery.
Volcanic Fact: The 1883 Krakatoa eruption created tsunamis that killed 36,000 people - showing how volcanic hazards can affect areas far from the actual volcano.
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Most popular content: Natural Hazards
Nepal Earthquake Analysis
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Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Comprehensive AQA A Level Geography Hazards Notes
sophie
@sophiefreyaa
Natural hazards might sound scary, but understanding them gives you the power to make sense of why earthquakes shake Japan, volcanoes erupt in Indonesia, and hurricanes batter the Caribbean. This comprehensive guide covers everything from plate tectonics to real-world disaster... Show more
Course Overview and Natural Hazards Introduction
Your physical geography journey through natural hazards covers massive ground - from the theory behind plate tectonics to real disaster case studies like the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Hurricane Katrina. This isn't just memorising facts; you're learning to analyse why disasters happen and how humans respond.
A natural hazard is any event that threatens people, buildings, or the environment. Think volcanoes (tectonic), hurricanes (atmospheric), floods (geomorphological), or wildfires (biological). What makes this fascinating is that the same earthquake can devastate Haiti but cause minimal damage in Japan - it's all about preparation and wealth.
People live in risky places for surprisingly logical reasons. Volcanic soil is brilliant for farming, tourist hotspots bring money, and sometimes there simply aren't alternatives. Your perception of risk also depends on your education, wealth, and what other problems you're facing.
Key Insight: A 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed thousands in Haiti (2010), whilst a 9.2 magnitude quake in Japan (2011) had far fewer casualties. Infrastructure and preparation matter more than the hazard's size.
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Hazard Management and Case Studies
Park's Response Model shows how communities bounce back from disasters through predictable stages: disruption hits, things get worse before they improve, then recovery begins through search and rescue, relief efforts, and finally reconstruction. This model explains why some places recover quickly whilst others struggle for years.
The key is integrated risk management - combining prediction, preparedness, and response strategies. Primary effects happen immediately (ground shaking, lava flows), whilst secondary effects follow later (tsunamis, fires, economic collapse). Smart planning addresses both.
Your case studies span the globe: Merapi volcano (2010) shows how even well-monitored volcanoes can cause chaos, whilst comparing earthquake responses in Japan versus Nepal reveals how wealth and infrastructure save lives. Hurricane case studies demonstrate how the same storm can have vastly different impacts depending on preparation.
Multi-hazardous environments like Japan face multiple threats simultaneously - earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and typhoons all threaten the same communities, requiring incredibly sophisticated management strategies.
Exam Tip: Always compare HICs and LICs in your answers - the same magnitude hazard typically has vastly different impacts based on a country's development level and preparedness.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Plate Tectonic Theory Fundamentals
Alfred Wegener's 1912 theory started with a simple observation: South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces. His supercontinent Pangaea split into Gondwanaland (south) and Laurasia (north), explaining why identical fossils appear on different continents and why Scotland's rocks match eastern Canada's perfectly.
Destructive plate boundaries create the most dramatic hazards. When dense oceanic crust meets lighter continental crust, the oceanic plate gets dragged down (slab pull), creating earthquakes and explosive volcanoes. The Indonesian subduction zone perfectly demonstrates this process in action.
Conservative boundaries like California's San Andreas Fault involve plates grinding past each other horizontally. Pressure builds until the plates suddenly slip, releasing shallow but potentially powerful earthquakes. Constructive boundaries pull apart, creating new ocean floor and generally gentler volcanic activity.
Understanding these boundaries isn't just theory - they explain why earthquakes cluster along specific lines, why some volcanoes explode whilst others gently flow, and why certain regions face multiple hazard types.
Remember This: Continental crust is older, thicker, and lighter than oceanic crust - this density difference drives subduction and explains why oceanic plates always sink beneath continental ones.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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Volcanic Hazards and Real Impacts
Volcanoes kill through multiple mechanisms, not just lava flows. Pyroclastic flows race downhill at over 800°C, whilst lahars (volcanic mudflows) can travel for miles down river valleys. The 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption created lahars that destroyed the entire town of Armero, killing three-quarters of its population.
Tephra (volcanic debris) ranges from massive bombs to fine ash that can collapse roofs and disrupt air travel. Volcanic gases like carbon dioxide can be deadly - Lake Nyos in Cameroon released CO₂ that suffocated 1,700 people in 1986. Secondary effects include tsunamis, flooding from melted ice, and even climate change from ash blocking sunlight.
The 2010 Merapi eruption in Indonesia demonstrates modern volcanic impacts. Despite monitoring and evacuation plans, pyroclastic flows killed over 300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. The VEI 3 eruption affected agriculture, tourism, and air travel across Southeast Asia.
Responses varied from immediate search and rescue to long-term reconstruction. International aid helped, but local community resilience proved crucial for recovery.
Volcanic Fact: The 1883 Krakatoa eruption created tsunamis that killed 36,000 people - showing how volcanic hazards can affect areas far from the actual volcano.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
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Access to all documents
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Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
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We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
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Most popular content: Natural Hazards
Nepal Earthquake Analysis
Explore the 2015 Nepal earthquake's causes, impacts, and responses in this detailed case study. Understand the social, economic, and environmental effects, including the loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, and international aid efforts. Ideal for geography students studying natural hazards and disaster management.
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user