A2 TECTONICS

QUESTION SHEET 1

Study the figure which shows three types of destructive plate activity.

A: An oceanic plate meets a continental plate

fold mountains
ocean trench
ocean surface
continental plate

basaltic layer

lithospheric plate

asthenosphere

B: Two oceanic plates converge

island arc (volcanoes)
ocean trench
ocean surface

basaltic layer
lithospheric plate
rising magma
asthenosphere from melted
plate margin

C: The meeting of two continental plates

fold mountains

continental plat e
e continental plat
Lithosp
heric pla
te

asthenosphere

(a) Describe and explain why destructive plate activity can lead to a variety of tectonic features. (13)

(b) Describe and explain the main features of fold mountains and island arcs. (12)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 2
Study the two reports of two contrasting eruptions.
Two volcanic eruptions
Nevado del Ruiz - November 1985
This is the northernmost of the volcanoes in the
Andes and reaches a height of 5400m. Although there
had for some time been signs of increased activity within
the volcano, and there had been talk of evacuating people
from surrounding towns and villages, during the evening
of the 13 November a large column of ash, steam and
rocks was suddenly ejected. The hot ash falling on the
summit melted part of the mountain’s snowcap, and the
combined ash and water rushed down into the valley of
the Lagunillas river towards the town of Armero. The
wave of mud (known as a lahars), travelling at a speed
of 50 km/h, hit the town about midnight. Many people
were in bed and within minutes the whole town was
engulfed in mud up to 3.5m deep; houses collapsed. To
make matters worse, the lahar quickly set like cement.
By the time rescuers reached the town the next day,
23,000 of Armero’s inhabitants lay encased within mud.
(a) (i) Explain the causes of each eruption.
(ii) Suggest reasons why the death toll at Nevado del Ruiz was nearly 400 times that at
Mount St Helens.
(b) With reference to a range of examples, discuss the statement that ‘the benefits of volcanic
activity outweigh the costs’.
Mount St Helens, Washington State, USA - May 1980
Prior to May 1980, Mount St Helens was a much
photographed, symmetrical snow-cone, just under 3000m
high. The last recorded volcanic activity was back in
1857. However, in March 1980 it began to show signs of
increasing activity and as a consequence many sightseers
and geologists came to have a look. By May a fracture
nearly 5km long had appeared and the northern side of
the mountain had a bulge. At 08:30 on 13 May, the
volcano exploded. The bulging north side suddenly
became a huge rockfall and the molten lava which had
been ponded up behind it burst out with terrific force.
Large quantities of ash and dust were also ejected; a
huge mudflow travelled some 45km and the explosion
triggered landslides. All in all, it is estimated that close to
2 km3 of matter were discharged. The eruption felled
52,000 ha of forest; over a million animals and birds
were killed; 600,000 tonnes of ash were deposited on the
town of Yakima 160km away; and 60 people died.
(6)
(7)
(12)
Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 3

Study the figure below. It shows the major elements of the World’s structure.

Major structural elements

Continental Features:
Largely undisturbed
sedimentary basins
Shield areas
(cratons)
Folded structures
dominant Tropic of
Cancer
Oceanic Features:
Equator
Ocean deeps Tropic of
(trenches) Capricorn
Ocean ridges and axes
of transform faults

0 km 5000

(a) Choose two of the following structural elements shown which form continents: sedimentary basins,
shield areas, fold mountains.

(i) Describe their distribution and extent.

(ii) Explain their key characteristics. (12)

(b) With the aid of diagrams explain how the two oceanic features shown on the figure
have been formed. (13)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 4

The graph shows the relationship between the recurrence interval and magnitude of geophysical events

Magnitude of geophysical event

Recurrence interval (logarithmic scale) in years

(a) (i) Describe and explain the relationships shown between the magnitude and frequency
of geophysical events. (8)

(ii) Two events are shown labelled A and B. Explain how the nature of these two events
can have an impact on peoples responses to them. (5)

(b) With reference to either earthquakes or volcanic eruptions assess the impact that
frequency and magnitude can have in contributing to the severity of a hazard event. (12)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 5

Study the figures below.

Shallow focus earthquake (focus 0-10 km below surface)

Medium depth focus earthquake (focus 10.1-20 km below surface)

Deep focus earthquake (focus >20 km below surface)

Eurasian
North
American
1

African 4
3
2
B South
A
Nazca American
Indo-Australian

Antarctic
Direction of plate movement Collision zone
Subduction zone (destructive margin) Uncertain plate boundary
Spreading ridge offset by transform
faults (constructive margin)

(a) Describe the global distribution of the three types of earthquake foci shown, in relation
to plate margins. (10)

(b) With the aid of an annotated diagram explain the occurrence of earthquakes at both
constructive and destructive plate margins. (15)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 6

Study the figure below.

Volcanic peaks and sites of recent volcanic activity

Major zone of seismic activity (earthquakes)

(i) With the aid of diagrams explain why recent volcanic activity and seismic activity
usually occur in the same areas. (14)

(ii) Account for the occurrence of both earthquakes and active volcanoes outside plate
boundary zones. (11)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 7

Study the figure below. It shows the Craven Faults at Malham Yorkshire.

Malham Tarn Field Centre Malham moor

Upland
N Gordale

Lower land
Tarn
Malham Cove

Gordale B eck
Malham
village
North Craven fault Malham Beck

Mid-Craven fault

KEY:

Boulder clay / Alluvium

Bowlands shales etc.

Carboniferous Limestone

Silurian slates

Sinkhole

Approximate boundary
between Upland and Lowland

(a) Describe and explain the impact of the Craven Faults on the relief and drainage
of the area shown. (10)

(b) With reference to a range of examples analyse the impact of faulting on landforms. (15)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 8

Study the table below.

Volcanic Eruption Volume of Eruption Duration of Troposphere/ Qualitative

explosivity rate ejecta column continuous stratosphere description
Type of eruption index (VEI) (kg/sec) (m3) height (km) blasts in hours injection
Hawaiian 0 102-103 <104 0.8-1.5 <1 Negligible/ Effusive
Non none
explosive
1 103-104 104-106 1.5-2.8 <1 Minor/ Gentle
Strombolian
Small none

2 104-105 106-107 2.8-5.5 1-6 Moderate/ Explosive

Moderate none

Vulcanian 3 105-106 107-108 5.5-10.5 1-12 Great/ Severe

Moderate possible
large
4 106-107 108-109 10.5-17.0 1->12 Great/ Violent
Large definite

5 107-108 109-1010 17.0-28.0 6->12 Great/ Cataclysmic

Very large significant

Plinian and 6 108-109 1010-1011 28.0-47.0 >12 Great/ Paroxysmal

ultra-Plinian Very large significant

7 >109 1011-1012 >47.0 >12 Great/ Colossal

Very large significant

8 __ >1012 __ >12 Great/ Terrific

Very large significant

(a) Assess the usefulness of the criteria shown as a means of classifying eruptions. (10)

(b) Choose two contrasting examples of volcanic eruptions you have studied.

(i) Briefly analyse their contrasting features (causes and impacts).

(ii) Explain where they would fit into the classification shown.
Use evidence to support your choice. __________________________________________________(15)

Total 25
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 9

Study the diagram below which shows some of the major features of a destructive plate boundary.

Volcanic Island Arc

Sea level Oceanic Trench

Lithosphere} Plate A
Plate B

Asthenosphere
700 km

= Earthquake Foci

(a) Distinguish between the lithosphere and the asthenophere.__________________________________((6)

(b) (i) Describe the major landforms associated with destructive plate boundaries. ____________________(6)

(ii) Attempt to explain the formation of the landforms described in (b)(i). ________________________(8)

Total 20
 A2 TECTONICS
QUESTION SHEET 10

Study the diagram below which shows the Richter Scale.

Possible effects close to the

0 epi-centre

2 Normally only detected by

instruments.
3

4 Faint tremor, people woken

up, windows broken.
5
Distinct shaking, chimney
6 stacks fall over, poorly built
houses collapse.
7
Major earthquake, concrete
8 structures collapse

9 Largest earthquake ever

officially recorded. Alaska:
1964 (8.6) - waves seen on
the ground’s surface,
fissures opened up

(a) Compare the possible effects of an earthquake of 5.0 compared to an earthquake of 7.0. __________(8)

(b) Discuss the long term impacts of volcanic activity. ______________________________________(12)

Total 20