Year 10 - Geography
Using GIS to visualise physical processes at different types of plate margin
Tectonic hazards
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about tectonic hazards, their location, causes and effects. Pupils learn about the different types of hazard before focusing on earthquakes and volcanoes. Pupils will learn about tectonic processes, hazard impacts and the options for mitigation and adaptation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use GIS Elevation Profiles to visualise physical processes at different plate margins.
Key Notes
- 3D GIS provides powerful ways to visualise what is physical at plate margins.
- GIS transects can be used to create Elevation Profiles to visualise topography and bathymetry.
- GIS Elevation Profiles can visualise physical processes at different plate margins.
Vocabulary To Learn
- bathymetry: the measurement of elevation for bodies of water, e.g. depth of oceans, seas, or lakes
- topography: the shape of Earth's surface including land areas and the floor of the seas and oceans
- Elevation Profile: a GIS tool which visualises changes in height above or below sea level along any transect line such as a river course
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students can find it difficult to grasp that Earth's crust and tectonic plates include the ocean floor, which has topography (e.g. mountains including volcanoes, valleys) just like the land areas.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
3D GIS provides powerful ways to visualise what is physical at plate margins. GIS transects can be used to create Elevation Profiles to visualise topography and bathymetry.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'bathymetry'
the measurement of elevation for bodies of water, e.g. depth of oceans, seas, or lakes.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students can find it difficult to grasp that Earth's crust and tectonic plates include the ocean floor, which has topography (e.g. mountains including volcanoes, valleys) just like the land areas. Correction: Remind students (often!) that tectonic plates include the ocean floor. Apps such as 3D Scene can help to visualise this underwater topography, which we learn about by bathymetry. The story of Marie Tharp provides excellent disciplinary knowledge.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Examples of management of earthquake hazards Study Guide
- Examples of management of volcanic hazards Study Guide
- Global distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes Study Guide
- Impacts of earthquakes in a developed and a developing country Study Guide
- Impacts of volcanoes in a developed and an emerging country Study Guide
- Plate tectonics theory Study Guide
- Processes at conservative plate margins Study Guide
- Processes at constructive/divergent plate margins Study Guide
- Processes at destructive/convergent plate margins Study Guide
- Reducing risks from earthquakes and volcanoes Study Guide
- The structure of the Earth Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Geography guide library.