State the direction that Hurricane Irma is predicted to track in the first three days as a hurricane.

Estimate the number of hours it is predicted for Hurricane Irma to track from the Leeward Islands to the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.

Outline one reason why hurricane activity may increase when ocean temperatures are warmer.

Explain two effects of a hurricane on the physical environment of a coastal margin such as that shown in the diagram.

WNW (allow W and NW).

66 hours (allow 64–68).

Award [1] for a reason and [1] for development.

For example: Higher ocean temperatures result in greater evaporation [1], which provides more energy for the formation of hurricanes [1].

In each case, award [1] for the effect and [2] for explanation/development.

Do not credit human impacts.

For example: Hurricanes can cause significant damage to coral reefs [1] due to high wave energy destroying the coral [1] and high rainfall reducing salinity, causing coral to die [1].

Other physical impacts include:

• loss of wetlands
• coastal erosion
• destruction of mangroves
• loss of biodiversity
• coastal flooding and debris deposited
• destruction of sand dunes
• landslides.

There was clear understanding of compass direction and time, showing good understanding of the map resource.

There was clear understanding of compass direction and time, showing good understanding of the map resource.

Some candidates outlined ocean temperatures and depth but many failed to recognize the role of warmer oceans as the driver of energy in a hurricane.

This was reasonably done although some focused on human impacts and ignored the word "physical" in the question.