Hazards & Opportunities (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography)

Hazards & Opportunities

• It is estimated that 600 million people will live in tectonically active areas by 2025

• There are many hazards associated with living in areas vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as outlined in the previous section

• Many opportunities are particularly associated with living near volcanoes, including:

  • Fertile soil

    • The ash and cooled lava contain many minerals, which lead to high crop yields

  • Tourism

    • Many people want to visit areas where there are active volcanoes; this increases the number of jobs available 

  • Minerals and precious stones

    • These can be mined and sold, providing work for local people

  • Geothermal energy

    • As the magma is closer to the surface, the heat can be used to generate geothermal energy

  • Creating a new land area

    • Once the lava and ash have cooled, new land is formed

• The opportunities for living in earthquake zones include:

  • Building regulations and infrastructure

    • Areas have stricter building regulations to ensure that construction can withstand seismic activity

    • This can lead to stronger and more resilient buildings and infrastructure

  • Community preparedness

    • Residents in earthquake-prone areas tend to be more prepared for natural disasters

    • This can result in a more resilient and united community that is better equipped to respond to emergencies

  • Research and innovation

    • Earthquake-prone areas attract researchers and engineers focused on developing technology and techniques for earthquake prediction, early warning systems, and building strength

    • This can lead to improvements in earthquake science and engineering that benefit everyone living in active regions 

  • Natural beauty

    • Some people find the scenery, geological formations, and outdoor leisure opportunities of earthquake-prone areas attractive to live and work in

    • Some earthquake-prone areas are close to the coast where the climate is good and fishing and farming are easy, such as the San Francisco Bay area

• It is important to also remember that some people have little choice but to live in earthquake zones due to limited money, despite the risk of property damage, injury, and disruption to daily life