Question 1

1. State two physical processes that may impact rivers or coasts.

   Flooding, Erosion

2. Explain how one physical process in rivers or coasts can threaten communities.

   Flooding can threaten communities because it results in health hazards, destruction of infrastructure and even livelihoods. This happens when water overflows its normal confines and into surrounding, dry land. Floods can result in severe fatalities if the citizens are not warned beforehand and do not have the time to prepare. They also frequently disrupt crucial services like electricity and internet and even destroy bridges and roads. Many people, especially in the agriculture sector also get affected as their crops get ruined and livestock killed. This shows how flooding can majorly affect communities.

Question 2

1. Evaluate the student’s action plan

   Strengths:

   • The students are collecting primary sources. This is important because it allows the students to gather direct evidence and come to a conclusion using reliable data.
   • The students are also collecting information from two different locations. This is a mjor strength as the Mekong River is large and passes through many areas. By taking two perspectives, the information will be varied and consider all possibilities.

   Limitations:

   • However, although there is primary data being collected, the students are not collecting any secondary data. This means that they are not using quantitive data and statistics to support the information which could result in a vague conclusion.
   • The students do not test the water, for example oxygen levels. This is very important since they are investigating management strategies to ensure that there is clean water. Water quality is as important as quantity as oxygen-deprived water or water with harmful minerals cannot be used.

   Appraisal:

   • In conclusion, the action plan gathers primary data from two locations but they do not collect secondary data or test water quality.

Question 3

1. Formulate a clear and focused research question for your investigation.

   To what extent can hard engineering strategies, like strengthening and raising levees, decrease the destruction of farmland and urban infrastructure in the Mississippi River?

2. Justify how investigating your research question will help the local council to better protect the environment and the community.

   My RQ explores how hard engineering strategies, especially the strengthening and raising of existing levees, can decrease the destruction of farmland and urban infrastructure along the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is prone to frequent flooding due to heavy rain and snowmelt, resulting in destruction of infrastructure and environmental degradation of floodplains. The RQ examines how management of rivers can protect communities and the environment, helping the local council to find solutions.

3. Identify one reliable secondary source you would use to investigate your research question.

   GIS mapping data showing flooding.

4. Explain how to secondary source you identifies in part (c) will help you investigate your research question.

   GIS mapping data showing flooding will allow me to identify specific areas that are affected by sever flooding. It will allow me to see where the river flows and understand the communities who live closest to the river and how they are impacted. This will allow me to come to a conclusion as to whether the strengthening and raising of levees will help protect the communities and environment.

5. State one challenge you could face in your investigation.

   The Mississippi River is a major river and there are many miles of levees in place. This will make it difficult to come to a single conclusion for the entire river. I will have to choose specific cities that are the most impacted by the flooding and investigate them.

Question 4

1. Prepare for your presentation and your two chosen questions by writing a script to explain how tectonic activity is successfully managed in your country.

   Your script must include the following:

   • An introduction
   • A conclusion
   • Named location(s)

Hello students.

I live in Japan, historically a tectonically active country, and today I’ll be explaining how this actvitiy is successfully managed. The country is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, meaning that Japan frequently experiences both earthquakes and volanic eruptions due to the movement of tectonic plates, particularly along destructive plate boundaries. Despite this high level of risk, Japan has been able to reduce the impacts of these hazards through effective management strategies. Today, we will discuss the social impacts after an earthquake and economic impacts of volcanic activity,

Japan experiences fewer social impacts, such as deaths and injuries, because of high levels of preparedness and risk reduction. The coutnry has advances seismic monitoring systems that detect P-waves before S-waves, strict building regulations and regular nationwide evacuation drills. This strategies reduce vulnerability by giving people enough time to take cover, automatically stopping trains and machinery and ensuring that building can absorb seismic energy instead of collapsing. Public awareness also means that people have faster reaction times and move effectively during hazards. For example, in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, many lives were saved due to these systems, despite its high magnitude. This shows how effective management can reduce the social impacts after an earthquake.

Additionally, Japan also reduces the economic impacts of volcanic eruptions through monitoring, zoning and rapid recovery systems. Volcanoes like Sakurajima are continuously monitored using sensors and satellite data and high risk zones are resisted to limit development and fatalities. This lowers the amount of exposure that business and infrastructure face. The government also provides financial aid and quickly rebuilds damaged infrastructure. This results in economic activity recovering quickly despite major eruptions, reducing long-term losses.