AQA GEOGRAPHY PAPER FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026
EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ALL CORRECT ANSWERS
What is a natural hazard? - ANSWER-An extreme natural process that can cause significant
damage and disruption to humans
What are the two main types of natural hazard? - ANSWER-Tectonic and climatic
Give four examples of tectonic hazards - ANSWER-Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis,
avalanches
Give four examples of climatic hazards - ANSWER-Flooding, tropical storms, tornadoes,
droughts
What is meant by "hazard risk"? - ANSWER-The chance of a natural hazard affecting people
Give three factors that could affect hazard risk - ANSWER-The type of natural hazard, the level
of development, the likelihood of a natural hazard occurring in that area
What is the theory of plate tectonics? - ANSWER-That Earth's crust is split into tectonic plates
which can move
Explain why tectonic plates are moving - ANSWER-Complex interactions between the dense
crust and the less dense mantle
What are the two types of crust? - ANSWER-Oceanic and continental
Where is oceanic crust found? - ANSWER-Under the oceans
Where is continental crust found? - ANSWER-Under land
What name is given to areas where different plates meet? - ANSWER-Plate margins/boundaries
Which natural hazards are found at a plate boundary? - ANSWER-An earthquake or volcano
What are the three types of plate margin? - ANSWER-Constructive, destructive, conservative
At a destructive margin, which direction are the plates moving? - ANSWER-Towards each other
At a conservative margin, which direction are the plates moving? - ANSWER-Sideways past
each other or in the same direction at different speeds
At what type or types of plate margin are volcanoes more likely? - ANSWER-Destructive and
constructive
At what type or types of plate margin are earthquakes more likely? - ANSWER-All types
,What is the difference between a primary effect and a secondary effect of a natural hazard? -
ANSWER-Primary effects happen immediately as a result of the hazard, secondary effects can
be delayed
Give two examples of secondary effects of earthquakes - ANSWER-Tsunamis, food shortages,
economic weakening
What are the two main types of response to a natural hazard? - ANSWER-Immediate and long-
term
What were the main primary effects of New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-2 people
died. 50 people injured. Thousands of buildings damaged and destroyed. Critical transport
infrastructure damaged and destroyed. Water, sewage, power and communications cut off. $8.5bn
in damage.
What were the main secondary effects of New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-
Landslides blocked roads and rail. River blockages caused flooding. Tsunami generated which
caused flooding and further damage.
What were the main immediate responses to New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-
Tsunami warning. Evacuation to higher ground and shelters. Temporary water supplies provided.
International aid and supplies delivered.
What were the main long-term responses to New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-New
water pipes built to withstand future damage. Charities set up with international donations to
help those worst affected. Central funds provided for rebuilding. Repair of roads and rails.
What were the main primary effects of Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-9000 people died.
22000+ injured. Millions of people left homeless. Hundreds of thousands of buildings damaged
and destroyed. Millions of people left without clean water and sanitation. Critical transport
infrastructure damaged and destroyed. $5bn in damage.
What were the main secondary effects of Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-Landslides
blocked roads. Outbreaks of typhus. Avalanches.
What were the main immediate responses to Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-International
charities provided medicine, food, water and shelters. Rescue workers sent by India and China.
What were the main long-term responses to Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-International
funding to build earthquake-resistant housing and infrastructure. Repair of water supply.
Reopening roads. Preparation of alternative energy sources in case of future events. Reopening
of heritage sites to encourage tourism.
Why do some people choose to live in an area of tectonic hazard? - ANSWER-Volcanic soil can
be very fertile. Volcanoes can be tourist attractions. Don't want to leave jobs or families. Risk
management strategies can lower the hazard risk.
, Why do some people not have a choice about living in an area of tectonic hazard? - ANSWER-
They cannot afford to live anywhere else
What are the four types of management strategy for natural hazards? - ANSWER-Monitoring,
prediction, protection, planning
What is a monitoring strategy? - ANSWER-A way for scientists to keep track of tectonic activity
How can earthquakes be monitored? - ANSWER-Using seismometers
How can volcanoes be monitored? - ANSWER-By monitoring gas emissions and small seismic
changes
Can earthquakes be predicted? - ANSWER-Their timing cannot but their rough location can
How can volcanoes be predicted? - ANSWER-Close monitoring of volcanic sites can give good
predictions
How can we protect people and buildings from earthquakes? - ANSWER-Strengthening building
materials. Allowing buildings to sway slightly with tremors.
How can we protect people and buildings from volcanoes? - ANSWER-Strengthening building
materials
How can we plan and prepare for earthquakes? - ANSWER-Preparing evacuation routes and
areas. Stockpiling goods and supplies. Emergency services practising different scenarios.
How can we plan and prepare for volcanoes? - ANSWER-Preparing evacuation routes and areas.
Stockpiling goods and supplies. Emergency services practising different scenarios.
What is global atmospheric circulation? - ANSWER-How winds distribute air and heat around
the globe
What happens to hot air? - ANSWER-It rises
What happens to cold air? - ANSWER-It sinks
What kind of pressure is generated in an area with lots of hot air rising? - ANSWER-Low
pressure
What kind of pressure is generated in an area with lots of cold air falling? - ANSWER-High
pressure
What name is given to an area around the globe that has a particular pressure? - ANSWER-A
pressure belt
In terms of pressure, in which direction does air move? - ANSWER-From high pressure to low
pressure
EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ALL CORRECT ANSWERS
What is a natural hazard? - ANSWER-An extreme natural process that can cause significant
damage and disruption to humans
What are the two main types of natural hazard? - ANSWER-Tectonic and climatic
Give four examples of tectonic hazards - ANSWER-Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis,
avalanches
Give four examples of climatic hazards - ANSWER-Flooding, tropical storms, tornadoes,
droughts
What is meant by "hazard risk"? - ANSWER-The chance of a natural hazard affecting people
Give three factors that could affect hazard risk - ANSWER-The type of natural hazard, the level
of development, the likelihood of a natural hazard occurring in that area
What is the theory of plate tectonics? - ANSWER-That Earth's crust is split into tectonic plates
which can move
Explain why tectonic plates are moving - ANSWER-Complex interactions between the dense
crust and the less dense mantle
What are the two types of crust? - ANSWER-Oceanic and continental
Where is oceanic crust found? - ANSWER-Under the oceans
Where is continental crust found? - ANSWER-Under land
What name is given to areas where different plates meet? - ANSWER-Plate margins/boundaries
Which natural hazards are found at a plate boundary? - ANSWER-An earthquake or volcano
What are the three types of plate margin? - ANSWER-Constructive, destructive, conservative
At a destructive margin, which direction are the plates moving? - ANSWER-Towards each other
At a conservative margin, which direction are the plates moving? - ANSWER-Sideways past
each other or in the same direction at different speeds
At what type or types of plate margin are volcanoes more likely? - ANSWER-Destructive and
constructive
At what type or types of plate margin are earthquakes more likely? - ANSWER-All types
,What is the difference between a primary effect and a secondary effect of a natural hazard? -
ANSWER-Primary effects happen immediately as a result of the hazard, secondary effects can
be delayed
Give two examples of secondary effects of earthquakes - ANSWER-Tsunamis, food shortages,
economic weakening
What are the two main types of response to a natural hazard? - ANSWER-Immediate and long-
term
What were the main primary effects of New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-2 people
died. 50 people injured. Thousands of buildings damaged and destroyed. Critical transport
infrastructure damaged and destroyed. Water, sewage, power and communications cut off. $8.5bn
in damage.
What were the main secondary effects of New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-
Landslides blocked roads and rail. River blockages caused flooding. Tsunami generated which
caused flooding and further damage.
What were the main immediate responses to New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-
Tsunami warning. Evacuation to higher ground and shelters. Temporary water supplies provided.
International aid and supplies delivered.
What were the main long-term responses to New Zealand's 2016 earthquake? - ANSWER-New
water pipes built to withstand future damage. Charities set up with international donations to
help those worst affected. Central funds provided for rebuilding. Repair of roads and rails.
What were the main primary effects of Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-9000 people died.
22000+ injured. Millions of people left homeless. Hundreds of thousands of buildings damaged
and destroyed. Millions of people left without clean water and sanitation. Critical transport
infrastructure damaged and destroyed. $5bn in damage.
What were the main secondary effects of Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-Landslides
blocked roads. Outbreaks of typhus. Avalanches.
What were the main immediate responses to Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-International
charities provided medicine, food, water and shelters. Rescue workers sent by India and China.
What were the main long-term responses to Nepal's 2015 earthquake? - ANSWER-International
funding to build earthquake-resistant housing and infrastructure. Repair of water supply.
Reopening roads. Preparation of alternative energy sources in case of future events. Reopening
of heritage sites to encourage tourism.
Why do some people choose to live in an area of tectonic hazard? - ANSWER-Volcanic soil can
be very fertile. Volcanoes can be tourist attractions. Don't want to leave jobs or families. Risk
management strategies can lower the hazard risk.
, Why do some people not have a choice about living in an area of tectonic hazard? - ANSWER-
They cannot afford to live anywhere else
What are the four types of management strategy for natural hazards? - ANSWER-Monitoring,
prediction, protection, planning
What is a monitoring strategy? - ANSWER-A way for scientists to keep track of tectonic activity
How can earthquakes be monitored? - ANSWER-Using seismometers
How can volcanoes be monitored? - ANSWER-By monitoring gas emissions and small seismic
changes
Can earthquakes be predicted? - ANSWER-Their timing cannot but their rough location can
How can volcanoes be predicted? - ANSWER-Close monitoring of volcanic sites can give good
predictions
How can we protect people and buildings from earthquakes? - ANSWER-Strengthening building
materials. Allowing buildings to sway slightly with tremors.
How can we protect people and buildings from volcanoes? - ANSWER-Strengthening building
materials
How can we plan and prepare for earthquakes? - ANSWER-Preparing evacuation routes and
areas. Stockpiling goods and supplies. Emergency services practising different scenarios.
How can we plan and prepare for volcanoes? - ANSWER-Preparing evacuation routes and areas.
Stockpiling goods and supplies. Emergency services practising different scenarios.
What is global atmospheric circulation? - ANSWER-How winds distribute air and heat around
the globe
What happens to hot air? - ANSWER-It rises
What happens to cold air? - ANSWER-It sinks
What kind of pressure is generated in an area with lots of hot air rising? - ANSWER-Low
pressure
What kind of pressure is generated in an area with lots of cold air falling? - ANSWER-High
pressure
What name is given to an area around the globe that has a particular pressure? - ANSWER-A
pressure belt
In terms of pressure, in which direction does air move? - ANSWER-From high pressure to low
pressure
