(i) Describe what is meant by hazard risk.

(ii) Describe what is meant by vulnerability to hazards.

Explain how building design and land-use planning can limit the potential damage from one named hazard type.

“The faster the speed of onset, the greater the impact of the hazard event.” Discuss this statement, with reference to examples.

(i) Risk is the probability of a hazard causing deaths, injuries, property and environmental damage [1 mark]. Award [1 mark] for developing the idea by means of exemplification or identification of a factor that affects risk (location/magnitude/frequency/recurrence).

(ii) Vulnerability refers to the conditions (demographic, social, economic or environmental) that affect the susceptibility of people to a hazard [1 mark]. Award [1 mark] for developing the idea by means of exemplification or identification of a vulnerable group in a population (elderly/poor/gender).

Building design: hurricane/flood surge protection may refer to large, raised shelters or individual house construction methods (metal shutters, thick concrete walls, secure roofs, stilts). Earthquake designs might include reinforced concrete foundation platforms, metal frames, shock absorbers, counterweights, safety glass, or in LEDCs light wooden frames, woven cane walls, light roofs, cement footings, concrete stilts in tsunami areas. In volcanic areas, buildings that have reinforced roofs to withstand the weight of ash or steep roofs to shed ash, or prefabricated sectioned homes that can be moved to avoid damage by lava flows.

Land-use planning: there are many possibilities, depending on the hazard type chosen, including prohibited development in areas with a known risk, evacuation routes, shelter access, buffers, mangroves, land-use zoning, building height restrictions.

Award [1 mark] for each idea, and additional marks for exemplification or extended explanation.

A simple list of factors without an explanation should not be awarded more than [3 marks].

If only building design or only land-use planning is addressed, award up to a maximum of [4 marks].

Accept answers that explain a number of designs in general or fewer detailed explanations.

Responses should examine at least two different, named hazard events with varying speeds of onset and discuss the relationship between the speed of onset and the impact of the hazard event. A balanced argument is required that takes into account hazard events with a rapid speed of onset, such as earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic explosions, and those with slower onset, such as hurricanes or droughts which may have an equally large impact in the longer term.

Responses that do not make use of examples should not progress beyond band D.

Candidates might focus either on different hazard types (eg drought compared to earthquakes) or different events of the same hazard type (eg volcanic eruptions). 

At band D responses are likely to be descriptive.

At band E expect a reasoned discussion between at least two different hazard events and an attempt at a conclusion.

At band F there should be a well balanced conclusion.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.