← Earth and Environmental Science syllabus

NSWEarth and Environmental Science

Module 6: Hazards

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do the processes of plate tectonics generate earthquakes, and how are the resulting hazards measured and managed?

Investigate how plate boundary processes produce earthquakes, including but not limited to the mechanisms of seismic waves, the measurement of magnitude and intensity, and the assessment of earthquake hazard in the Australian context
A focused answer to the HSC Earth and Environmental Science Module 6 dot point on earthquakes. Plate boundaries, elastic rebound, seismic waves, magnitude versus intensity, and Australian intraplate earthquakes including the 1989 Newcastle event.
6 min answer →

How is hazard risk assessed, monitored and managed to reduce the impact of natural events on communities?

Evaluate the methods used to monitor, predict and manage natural hazards, including but not limited to risk assessment, early warning systems and mitigation strategies in the Australian context
A focused answer to the HSC Earth and Environmental Science Module 6 dot point on managing hazards. Risk as hazard times vulnerability times exposure, monitoring and prediction, early warning, and mitigation, with Australian examples and agencies.
6 min answer →

How do atmospheric and climatic processes generate meteorological hazards, and how are their impacts managed in Australia?

Investigate the causes, behaviour and impacts of meteorological hazards, including but not limited to tropical cyclones, droughts, floods and bushfires in the Australian context
A focused answer to the HSC Earth and Environmental Science Module 6 dot point on meteorological hazards. The causes and impacts of tropical cyclones, drought, floods and bushfires, the role of ENSO, and Australian examples and management.
6 min answer →

How are tsunamis generated, how do they travel across oceans, and how is the risk to coastal communities managed?

Investigate the generation, propagation and coastal impact of tsunamis, including but not limited to their causes, wave behaviour and warning systems relevant to the Australian region
A focused answer to the HSC Earth and Environmental Science Module 6 dot point on tsunamis. How tsunamis are generated, how they propagate and shoal, their coastal impact, and warning systems, with Australian-region examples.
6 min answer →

How do volcanic processes create hazards, and how can monitoring reduce the risk to communities?

Analyse how the type of volcanic eruption relates to magma composition and plate setting, the range of hazards produced, and the methods used to monitor and mitigate volcanic risk, including reference to the Australian region
A focused answer to the HSC Earth and Environmental Science Module 6 dot point on volcanic hazards. Magma composition and eruption style, the main volcanic hazards, monitoring and mitigation, and Australian-region examples including the Newer Volcanics Province and Pacific neighbours.
6 min answer →