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Tectonic and Coastal Hazards (Unit 1 Options, Themes 3 and 4)

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How can coastal erosion and flooding be managed, and which approaches are most sustainable?

Key Idea 4.2 (Theme 4): managing coastal hazards, the use of hard engineering (sea walls, groynes, rock armour, gabions) and soft engineering (beach nourishment, managed retreat, dune regeneration), and the costs, benefits and sustainability of different coastal management strategies.
A focused answer on Key Idea 4.2 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1 (Theme 4): hard engineering (sea walls, groynes, rock armour, gabions) and soft engineering (beach nourishment, managed retreat, dune regeneration), and the costs, benefits and sustainability of coastal management.
14 min answer →

How do plate tectonics create earthquakes and volcanoes, and what landforms and hazards result?

Key Idea 3.1 (Theme 3): tectonic processes and landforms, the structure of the Earth and plate tectonics, the three main plate boundaries (constructive, destructive and conservative) and the landforms and hazards (earthquakes and volcanoes) associated with each.
A focused answer on Key Idea 3.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1 (Theme 3): the structure of the Earth and plate tectonics, constructive, destructive and conservative plate boundaries, and the landforms and hazards (earthquakes and volcanoes) at each.
14 min answer →

Why are some people more vulnerable to tectonic hazards, and how can the risks be reduced?

Key Idea 3.2 (Theme 3): vulnerability and hazard reduction, why people live in tectonically active areas, why the impacts of earthquakes and volcanoes differ between richer and poorer countries, and how hazards can be reduced through prediction, protection (building design) and preparation (planning and education).
A focused answer on Key Idea 3.2 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1 (Theme 3): why people live in hazardous areas, why earthquake and volcano impacts differ between richer and poorer countries, and how risks are reduced through prediction, protection and preparation.
14 min answer →

Why are some coastlines vulnerable to erosion and flooding, and what threats do they face?

Key Idea 4.1 (Theme 4): vulnerable coastlines, the physical and human factors that make a coast vulnerable to erosion and flooding, the threat of coastal erosion and retreat (for example soft cliffs), and the increasing risk of coastal flooding from storm surges and sea-level rise.
A focused answer on Key Idea 4.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1 (Theme 4): the physical and human factors that make a coast vulnerable, the threat of coastal erosion and cliff retreat, and the rising risk of coastal flooding from storm surges and sea-level rise.
14 min answer →