Eduqas A-Level Geography A110QS
Coastal LandscapesLandscape
Glaciated LandscapesLandscape
Changing Places
Water and Carbon Cycles
Global Migration
Global Governance of the Oceans
Tectonic Hazards
EcosystemsContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: IndiaContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: ChinaContemporary theme
Development in an African ContextContemporary theme
Energy Challenges and DilemmasContemporary theme
Weather and ClimateContemporary theme
Geographical Skills
Tectonic Hazards
The hazard profile and magnitude scales
- 3 things to know
- Component 3 Section A
Overview
Hazard profile, magnitude of a hazard and richter scale.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Define the magnitude of a hazard.
Describe the Richter scale.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a hazard profile?
Model answer
A hazard profile is a summary of an event's physical characteristics, used to compare one hazard with another. Magnitude, speed of onset, duration, areal extent, frequency and predictability are the usual criteria.
- 2
Define the magnitude of a hazard.
Model answer
Magnitude is the size or energy of a hazard event. Scales such as Richter, moment magnitude and the Volcanic Explosivity Index are used to record it.
- 3
Describe the Richter scale.
Model answer
The Richter scale, devised in 1935, measures the amplitude of seismic waves recorded on a seismograph. The scale is logarithmic, so each whole number represents a tenfold rise in amplitude.
- 4
How much more energy does a magnitude 7 earthquake release than a magnitude 6?
Model answer
Each whole step on the scale represents about 31.6 times more energy. A magnitude 7 event therefore releases roughly 32 times the energy of a magnitude 6.
- 5
Why has moment magnitude replaced the Richter scale for large earthquakes?
Model answer
The Richter scale saturates above about magnitude 7 and understates the largest events. Moment magnitude uses fault area, slip and rock rigidity, so it stays accurate at any size.
- 6
Describe the Modified Mercalli scale.
Model answer
The Modified Mercalli scale runs from I to XII and records the intensity of shaking. Ratings come from observed damage and from what people felt, not from an instrument.
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