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Test your knowledge of volcanoes in this quiz.

Managing Volcanic Hazards

Volcanoes create powerful hazards, from ash and lava to deadly gases. This GCSE Geography quiz looks at how people prepare for eruptions and reduce their risks.

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Fascinating Fact:

Buildings in volcanic areas can be designed with stronger roofs to withstand ash fall, and gutters can be reinforced or cleared regularly to prevent collapse.

In GCSE Geography, managing volcanic hazards focuses on how monitoring, planning, and building design can reduce risk. Pupils study prediction methods, evacuation planning, hazard maps, and long term strategies to protect people, property, and services in active volcanic zones.

Key Terms

Volcanic hazard: A potentially dangerous event linked to a volcano, such as ash fall, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, or lahars.
Monitoring: Measuring signs of volcanic activity, such as earthquakes, ground swelling, or gas emissions, to help predict eruptions.
Evacuation route: A planned safe route used to move people away from danger when a volcanic eruption is expected.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are volcanic hazards in GCSE Geography?

Volcanic hazards in GCSE Geography include ash fall, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, lahars, toxic gases, and volcanic landslides. These hazards can damage buildings, transport, health, and local economies.

How can volcanic eruptions be predicted?

Eruptions are partly predicted by monitoring small earthquakes, ground deformation, gas emissions, and changes in heat or water chemistry. Scientists use this data to assess risk and issue warnings.

How do people manage and reduce volcanic hazards?

People manage volcanic hazards through hazard maps, land use planning, emergency plans, evacuation routes, education, strong building design, and early warning systems based on careful monitoring.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Why are more people likely to die when a volcanic eruption occurs in a poor country?

They don't have the technology to monitor volcanoes closely

They don't have the resources to support the populations affected

Poor communications and infrastructure make evacuation slow and inefficient

All of the above

Monitoring is not as effective as in countries that are wealthy so there is a lot less warning before an eruption occurs, taking people by surprise. Aid often needs to come in from abroad and that always takes several days to organise

2 .

There are several reasons why communities in LEDCs are more vulnerable than those in MEDCs. Which of the following statements is false?

Volcanoes in LEDCs erupt less often than in MEDCs so they are not as used to dealing with eruptions

Active volcanoes are often better monitored

The government can issue warnings via TV and radio a few days before an eruption

Fewer people have motor vehicles and the roads are often a lot worse in LEDCs

Rural populations in LEDCs have less access to broadcast media and so warnings may not reach them before the eruption occurs

3 .

Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean and is a LEDC. A volcano on the south of the island started to give warning signs that an eruption was imminent. Two years later, the most intense eruptions occurred, however, there had been plenty of time to evacuate the population from the island. Which of the following would be classed as a long term response or result of the eruption?

Evacuation

Abandonment of the capital city

Building an observatory to monitor the volcano

Increased unemployment because tourists stopped visiting the island

Since the volcano has calmed down again, the tourist industry has recovered

4 .

Some volcanoes are closely monitored for signs of an eruption. Which of the following is not an indicator that an eruption is likely to occur?

An increase in oxygen levels around the volcano indicates that magma is rising

Dozens or even hundreds of micro-earthquakes indicates that magma is rising

An increase in sulfur dioxide around the volcano as gases are released from the rising magma

Ground temperatures increase around the volcano as the red hot magma gets closer to the surface

Volcanoes emit many gases, but never oxygen

5 .

Which type of volcano is most likely to cause loss of life and property when it erupts?

Shield

Sword

Composite

Fissure

Sword is not a type of volcano. The lava from shield volcanoes is much less viscous than in a composite volcano and therefore eruptions are less explosive

6 .

Volcanic eruptions can have a devastating effect on communities and the environment yet people still live close to volcanoes and volcanically-active areas. Which of the following is not a reason for this?

Mudflows clear areas of woodland or agriculture

When volcanic ash weathers, it releases nutrients into the soil

Underground heat

Tourists like to visit volcanoes

The heat underground can be used to generate geothermal energy, the extra nutrients in soil make them more fertile and tourism brings cash into the local economy

7 .

What is the most effective way to protect a population during a volcanic eruption?

Evacuation

Provide specially reinforced umbrellas to protect them from the volcanic bombs

Build a large wall around the centre of population

Provide volcano suits to protect them from the heat

The only way that a population can be protected is by evacuation. If the lava from an eruption is of the viscous (thick and slow moving) type then it may be possible to build a wall from pre-cast concrete blocks to deflect it, however, there are still the other dangers to contend with

8 .

In MEDCs, people living near volcanoes are generally better prepared for an eruption. Which of the following is the most likely reason?

People in MEDCs are wealthier and can buy homes that are built to withstand a volcanic eruption

People in LEDCs have lower literacy skills

People in MEDCs have more leisure time and can spend more time getting fit so that they can run away from an eruption

People in LEDCs cannot afford to leave their homes during an eruption

Preparing people for a volcanic eruption includes education. That is more difficult where literacy levels are low because fewer people can read leaflets and posters

9 .

Which of the following would be classed as a secondary effect of a volcanic eruption?

Destruction of crops and livestock by flooding where volcanic ash blocks rivers

Forests destroyed by a nuée ardente

People killed by toxic gases

Lahars destroying crops and homes

A secondary effect is something that is not caused directly by the eruption. In this case, although the flooding is caused by the ash, the destruction is actually caused by the water and not the eruption

10 .

Which of the following is not a hazard from a volcano?

Lahar

Lava flow

Storm surge

Ash cloud

There are other hazards too such as nuée ardentes, toxic gases and volcanic bombs

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Volcanoes

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)