Tectonic Landscapes

Location and characteristics of tectonic activity

1. World distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes
2. The reasons why earthquakes and volcanoes occur where they do, through an explanation of plate tectonics and hotspots
3. The characteristic features of convergent, divergent and conservative plate boundaries
4. The measurement of earthquake magnitude (the Mercalli and Richter scales) and diagrams showing characteristics of focus and epicentre

Management of the effects of tectonic activity

1. The reasons why people continue to live in areas of volcanic and earthquake activity
2. The causes and effects of a volcanic eruption or an earthquake on people and the environment, in a named location
3. Prediction and prevention of the effects of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes by forecasting, the design of buildings and defences, planning and education

1. Describe the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes on a global scale
2. An understanding of the processes which cause plate movements in relation to the occurence of earthquakes and volcanoes, and the formation of hotspots
3. Cross-section diagrams of the main features of convergent, divergent and conservative plate boundaries
4. Recognise and know the differences between the two scales. An understanding of the terms 'focus' and 'epicentre'
5. Economic, social and environmental reasons should be studied through a range of examples in countries of varying levels of development
6. A case study of an earthquake or an volcanic eruption to describe and explain the causes and effects on the people and the environment, (eg. Montserrat or Bam)
7. How the effects of both volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are reduced through planning before the event, taught through a range of examples