O-LevelGeographyThe natural environment2217/12 · Oct/Nov 2012 · Q325 Marks

Study Photograph A (Insert), which shows Pico Viejo, an active volcano in Tenerife.

(a)(i)What is meant by active volcano?[1]
(a)(ii)Using only evidence from Photograph A, describe two features of the volcano shown.[2]
(a)(iii)Briefly describe the global distribution of volcanoes.[3]
(b)(i)Explain how the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano benefitted the Icelandic tourist industry.[3]
(b)(ii)In what ways, other than tourism, may people benefit from living close to a volcano?[4]
(b)(iii)Explain how volcanic eruptions can cause problems for people.[5]
(c)Explain the causes of an eruption of a named volcano which you have studied. You may use labelled diagrams in your answer. Name of volcano[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2012). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] One that is currently erupting or has recently erupted/able to erupt/can still erupt or produce lava/can erupt at any time
[1] Conical shape/cone;
[1] Crater;
[1] Steep sides at the top;
[1] Gently sloping at the base;
[1] Mainly bare rock/no vegetation/not much vegetation;
[1] Small rocks/loose rocks/dark coloured rocks etc 2 @ 1 mark
[1] on or close to plate boundaries; (1 mark reserve);
[1] near hot spots;
[1] 2 marks max are available for any locational detail such as: two named plates at a boundary e.g. Nazca and South American plate (two marks can be given for examples of two different plate boundaries);
[1] around the Pacific Ocean/Pacific Ring of Fire;
[1] down the centre of the Atlantic Ocean/Mid Atlantic Ridge; 3 @ 1 mark
[1] attracted tourists/there were more tourists;
[1] work for people or examples of activities which create work;
[1] money/income into the country/more business/multiplier effect/foreign currency;
[1] increased awareness of Iceland/its attractions 3 @ 1 mark
[1] Fertile soils/high yields of crops;
[1] Geothermal power;
[1] Mining/quarrying of volcanic rocks or appropriate example;
[1] Beautiful scenery;
[1] Health benefits e.g. hot springs/water with minerals etc 4 @ 1 mark
[1] death/injuries;
[1] ash/fumes make it difficult to breathe/breathing problems;
[1] destruction of property/houses/homes/buildings/cities or towns destroyed;
[1] high cost of rebuilding;
[1] need to evacuate;
[1] loss of crops/loss of livestock/destroys farmland/destruction of food supplies;
[1] disruption of road/rail communications;
[1] disruption/cancellation of flights/aircraft cannot fly through ash;
[1] work place destroyed/people out of work;
[1] contamination of water supply;
[1] visibility reduced from lack of sunlight or ash cloud etc 5 @ 1 mark or development
Levels marking (can award levels on diagram for annotation regarding causes but do not double credit diagram and text) Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail explaining cause of volcanic eruption. level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example More developed statements explaining causes of volcanic eruption. (NB: max 5 if no named example or an inappropriate example. Example needs to be a named volcano. An inappropriate example would be a country or plate boundary) Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example. Comprehensive and accurate statements including some place specific reference. Candidates are likely to refer to: plate boundaries/movement; lines of weakness subduction; heating; pressure etc; Any reference to being caused by an earthquake is a L1 point only. Place specific detail may include names of plates and appropriate locational details.