Hazards & Opportunities (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
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
There are also many opportunities that are particularly associated with living near volcanoes, including:
Fertile soils: 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 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 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 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
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
Worked Example
Fig 1 shows Teide, an active volcano in the Canary Islands.
Give three opportunities that volcanoes like Teide offer to people.
[3 marks]
Answer:
fertile soils [1]
tourism [1]
geothermal power [1]
minerals [1]
relief rainfall in dry areas [1]
creating new land area [1]
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