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Analyse the data shown in Figure 9a and Figure 9b - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 5 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 5
Analyse the data shown in Figure 9a and Figure 9b. Figure 9a – the number of global reported disasters between 1990 and 2017. It also shows the economic costs assoc... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Analyse the data shown in Figure 9a and Figure 9b - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 5 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Trends in Disasters from 1990 to 2017
Answer
The data in Figure 9a shows that there is no overall trend regarding the number of global reported disasters from 1990 to 2017. The lowest number recorded is around 210 in 1992, while the peak was at 430 in 2005. This fluctuation indicates that the frequency of disasters varies significantly year by year.
Step 2
Economic Costs of Disasters
Answer
Economic costs associated with disasters have significantly varied, typically ranging from about 200 billion. The highest recorded economic loss from disasters appears to align with the years that had more occurrences of major disasters, indicating a correlation.
Step 3
Analysis of 2017 Disasters
Answer
Figure 9b breaks down the global reported disasters for 2017 based on occurrence, number of deaths, and economic costs. This year, droughts and storms, including hurricanes, made up a significant percentage of occurrences. However, earthquakes resulted in a considerable number of deaths despite fewer occurrences, suggesting higher fatality rates associated with seismic activities.
Step 4
Comparison of Data
Answer
When comparing both figures, it becomes evident that while the frequency of disasters has fluctuated, the economic impact seems to rise with major events. One notable point in the data is that while there may be many occurrences, the scale of economic impact and fatalities can be disproportionate, as seen in the 2017 analysis.