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SAMPLE PAPER
2
Level 2 Earth and Space Science
2.5: Demonstrate understanding of the causes of extreme
Earth events in New Zealand.
Credits: Four
Check that you have completed ALL parts of the box at the top of this page.
You should answer ALL parts of ALL questions in this booklet.
If you need more space for any answer, use the page(s) provided at the back of this booklet and clearly
number the question.
Check that this booklet has pages 2–9 in the correct order and that none of these pages is blank.
YOU MUST HAND THIS BOOKLET TO YOUR TEACHER AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME.
EXEMPLAR FOR MERIT
NOTE: These exemplars do not fully show Grade Score Marking (GSM) because of
the small sample of student scripts involved, and the absence of a cut score meeting
to determine grade boundaries. In 2012, level 1 2011 examination papers will have
exemplars marked fully in accordance with GSM. These will be published on the
NZQA website when the assessment schedules are published.
This exemplar has been generated by a subject expert not a candidate.
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority, 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the prior permission of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
2
You are advised to spend 60 minutes answering the questions in this booklet.
QUESTION ONE: VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
Mt Ruapehu is a stratovolcano, mostly andesitic in nature, found in New Zealand’s
Taupo Volcanic Zone. The last time Mt Ruapehu erupted was in 1996. It is a typical
andesitic volcano with a classic cone shape.
Explain why Mt Ruapehu erupts andesite and discuss the characteristics of such an eruption. In
your answer, you should:
•
state why active volcanoes occur in New Zealand’s Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ)
•
outline the tectonic plate processes under New Zealand’s North Island
•
use plate tectonics to explain what causes Mt Ruapehu to erupt andesite (you may use and label
the diagram in the box below to support your answer).
The magma under the TVZ goes up to crust weakness (Mt Ruapehu) and erupts andesitic
lava and ash (because the magma is andesite).
Andesite is sticky lava so it does not travel far before it hardens, therefore Mt Ruapehu is a
classic cone volcano.
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QUESTION TWO: COOK STRAIT CANYON
The Wairarapa earthquake of 1855 measured 8.2 on the Richter Scale and originated on
the Wairarapa fault. This earthquake caused the coastline around Wellington to be
significantly uplifted.
NOTE
The diagram for this question cannot be reproduced for copyright reasons.
Please copy the link below into your web browser to access the diagram
needed to answer this question.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/sea-floor-geology/4/3
Despite the epicentre of the quake being under land a tsunami was observed in Cook
Strait and Wellington Harbour.
Explain, using plate tectonics, the cause of the Wairarapa earthquake and how this resulted in a
tsunami in Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour. In your answer, you should:
• explain what caused the Wairarapa earthquake
• use evidence from the diagram to explain how a land based earthquake lead to a tsunami the
Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour.
You may draw a labelled diagram(s) in the box provided to support your answer.
Wellington sits on top of two tectonic plates (Australian and Pacific). These grind towards
each other and sometimes get stuck and locked up. When this happens pressure builds up
between the plates. This pressure gets released as an earthquake which in this case had an
epicentre under land in the Wairarapa. The earthquake was big so lots of energy was
released and lots of shaking was felt.
Underneath Cook Strait is a canyon or trench. The shaking knocked the sides of the trench
to the bottom which was a landslide under the sea.
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This set off a wave in the middle of Cook Strait that washed up as a tsunami in Wellington
Harbour and the shores bordering Cook Strait.
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QUESTION THREE: CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE OF 4TH SEPTEMBER 2010
In the early hours of September 4th 2010 Christchurch was rocked by a magnitude 7.1
quake that caused liquefaction that lead to major damage to Christchurch city and its
surrounding districts. Christchurch city is located on alluvial plains that were formed
from ancient sediments from the Southern Alps. The plains are crossed by multiple
rivers and streams.
Discuss, with reasons, the causes of the magnitude 7.1 Christchurch earthquake and explain why
this earthquake caused liquefaction of land in many areas of the city. In your answer, you should:
• explain the type of tectonic plate boundary in the South Island
• explain how the South Island’s tectonic plate boundary leads to earthquakes
• define liquefaction and describe its effects on land
• explain in detail the characteristics of land that is prone to liquefaction.
You may draw a labelled diagram(s) in the box provided to support your answer.
The South Island sits upon two tectonic plates (Australian and Pacific). They are both
continental plates at this point in New Zealand. Because both plates are the same density,
they collide and they push upwards.
This is called a converging plate boundary and has formed the Southern Alps. The other
thing that the South Island has is a long fault called the Alpine Fault which is basically
the plate boundary between the two plates. As the plates converge they get stuck and
energy (pressure) builds up. This gets released as earthquakes. In the Christchurch
Earthquake of 4/9/2010 the energy came out in a fault in Canterbury called the Greendale
fault.
This was a shallow earthquake, so the shaking really shock up the sediments in the
Canterbury plains.
Liquefaction happens when practices are shaken and they sort due to size – the smallest
on top and the big ones drop. This leads to sand volcanoes. Because Christchurch was
built on ancient sediments and the earthquake was shallow lots of liquefaction occurred.
So liquefaction happens where there are sediments with sand in them.
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Extra paper for continuing your answers, if required.
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