IB Geography Option D - Geophysical Hazards (complete unit)

Complete Unit – Option D: Geophysical Hazards (IB Geography SL/HL)

This fully resourced unit follows the IB Geography (SL/HL) syllabus and provides complete coverage of the Option D topic: Geophysical Hazards. Lessons are academically robust, visually engaging, and designed to develop strong geographical understanding – ideal for IB learners aiming for top achievement.
Whether you’re a specialist or non-specialist, this unit is ready to teach and easy to follow – saving valuable planning time while ensuring full syllabus alignment. It includes PowerPoints, ready-to-print worksheets, embedded videos, and exam-style questions, with all content structured to match the suggested 24–32 teaching hours for Option D.

Topics covered:
Option D1 – Geophysical Systems
Structure of the Earth
Tectonic Plates
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Mass Movements

Option D2 – Geophysical Hazard Risks
Distribution of Tectonic Hazards
Measuring Hazards
Impacts
Vulnerability & Risk

Option D3 – Hazard Risk & Vulnerability
Haiti case study
New Zealand case study
Volcanoes case study (Eyjafjallajökull & Krakatau)
Mass movement case study (Leyte & Montecito)
Note: Some case studies are interwoven with physical processes and can be taught either during the initial topic (e.g. earthquakes) or revisited in this section to explore vulnerability and risk in greater depth.

Option D4 – Future Resilience & Adaptation
Trends
Adaptation & Resilience
Pre-Event Strategies
Post-Event Strategies

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Updated June 2025