GCSE Geography | Managing volcanic hazards due to tectonic activity

Geography Quiz - Managing Volcanic Hazards (Questions)

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

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

[ ]	Lahar
[ ]	Lava flow
[ ]	Storm surge
[ ]	Ash cloud

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

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

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

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

[ ]	Shield
[ ]	Sword
[ ]	Composite
[ ]	Fissure

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

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

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

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

10.

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

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

Geography Quiz - Managing Volcanic Hazards (Answers)

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

[ ]	Lahar
[ ]	Lava flow
[x]	Storm surge
[ ]	Ash cloud

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

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

[x]	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

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
[x]	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

[x]	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

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

[ ]	Shield
[ ]	Sword
[x]	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

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
[x]	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

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?

[x]	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

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

[x]	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

[ ]	Evacuation
[ ]	Abandonment of the capital city
[x]	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

10.