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Date May 2021 Marks available 2 Reference code 21M.1.bp.3
Level SL and HL Paper 1 Time zone
Command term Outline Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

The diagram shows the predicted path of Hurricane Irma in August and September 2017.

[Source: From BBC News at bbc.co.uk/news. Data from National Hurricane Center.]

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

[1]
a.i.

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.

[1]
a.ii.

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

[2]
b.

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

[6]
c.

Markscheme

WNW (allow W and NW).

a.i.

66 hours (allow 64–68).

a.ii.

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].

b.

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:

c.

Examiners report

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

a.i.

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

a.ii.

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.

b.

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

c.

Syllabus sections

Option B: Oceans and coastal margins » B.1. Ocean–atmosphere interactions » B.1.3. The formation, distribution and physical impacts of hurricanes on coastal margins
Option B: Oceans and coastal margins » B.1. Ocean–atmosphere interactions
Option B: Oceans and coastal margins

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