Optional Theme: Hazards and Disasters - Risk Assessment and Response

• Focus is on the full range of human adjustments and responses to hazards and disasters at a variety of scales.
• The term “natural disaster” is deliberately avoided.
• Students are expected to examine the following four hazards:
  • Either earthquakes or volcanoes
• Hurricanes
• Droughts
• Any one recent human-induced (technological) hazard resulting in an explosion or escape of hazardous material
• Recommended that the overall approach should be concept by concept (such as vulnerability, risk and risk assessment), rather than entirely thematic (hazard by hazard).
• At least one case study of a hazard event (or disaster) is required for each of the four hazard types.

• Assessed in Paper 2.
• Structured question based on stimulus material.
• There is a choice of two questions per optional theme.
• 20 marks per question.

Recommended Reading

Hazards and Disasters Diigo Group