§-Earth and Environmental Science syllabus
NSW · NESA← Earth and Environmental Science
Earth and Environmental Science syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the NSW Earth and Environmental Science syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Module 5: Earth's Processes
Module overview →How do energy and matter move through the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere to drive Earth's processes?
Investigate how internal and external sources of energy drive the movement of matter through Earth's interacting spheres, including but not limited to radiogenic heat, solar radiation and convection in the Australian context
How do the processes that occur within the Earth lead to the formation and concentration of mineral and ore deposits?
Investigate the processes that concentrate metals and minerals into economic ore deposits, including but not limited to magmatic, hydrothermal, sedimentary and weathering processes that operate in the Australian geological setting
How have fossils and the rock record been used to reconstruct the history and changing environments of the Earth?
Analyse how relative and absolute dating methods, and the fossil record, are used to construct the geological time scale and to interpret past environments, including Australian examples such as the Ediacaran fauna and the Riversleigh deposits
What are minerals, how do they form, and how are their physical and chemical properties used to identify them?
Investigate how minerals form by crystallisation and how their physical and chemical properties, including crystal structure, hardness, cleavage and composition, are used to identify them in the Australian context
What evidence supports the theory of plate tectonics, and how does it explain the large-scale features of the Earth?
Analyse the lines of evidence for continental drift and sea-floor spreading that led to the theory of plate tectonics, including but not limited to palaeomagnetism, fossil and rock matches and the Australian geological record
How does the rock cycle continually recycle Earth's crustal materials between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic forms?
Investigate the rock cycle, including but not limited to the formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and the processes that transform one rock type into another in the Australian context
How do weathering, erosion and soil-forming processes break down rock and build the soils that support life?
Investigate the physical, chemical and biological processes of weathering and erosion, and how they interact with climate and organisms to form soils, in the Australian context
Module 6: Hazards
Module overview →How do the processes of plate tectonics generate earthquakes, and how are the resulting hazards measured and managed?
Investigate how plate boundary processes produce earthquakes, including but not limited to the mechanisms of seismic waves, the measurement of magnitude and intensity, and the assessment of earthquake hazard in the Australian context
How is hazard risk assessed, monitored and managed to reduce the impact of natural events on communities?
Evaluate the methods used to monitor, predict and manage natural hazards, including but not limited to risk assessment, early warning systems and mitigation strategies in the Australian context
How do atmospheric and climatic processes generate meteorological hazards, and how are their impacts managed in Australia?
Investigate the causes, behaviour and impacts of meteorological hazards, including but not limited to tropical cyclones, droughts, floods and bushfires in the Australian context
How are tsunamis generated, how do they travel across oceans, and how is the risk to coastal communities managed?
Investigate the generation, propagation and coastal impact of tsunamis, including but not limited to their causes, wave behaviour and warning systems relevant to the Australian region
How do volcanic processes create hazards, and how can monitoring reduce the risk to communities?
Analyse how the type of volcanic eruption relates to magma composition and plate setting, the range of hazards produced, and the methods used to monitor and mitigate volcanic risk, including reference to the Australian region
Module 7: Climate Science
Module overview →How do the carbon cycle and the greenhouse effect regulate the Earth's climate, and how are human activities altering them?
Explain how the carbon cycle and the enhanced greenhouse effect regulate global temperature, including but not limited to the role of carbon reservoirs, fluxes, feedback mechanisms and the impact of anthropogenic emissions in the Australian context
How are climate models used to project future climate, and how reliable are their predictions for Australia?
Evaluate how climate models are constructed and used to project future climate change, including but not limited to emissions scenarios, model validation and projected impacts in the Australian context
How does the balance of incoming and outgoing radiation control Earth's climate, and what natural factors have changed it through time?
Investigate the Earth's energy budget and the natural drivers of long-term climate change, including but not limited to solar variation, Milankovitch cycles, volcanism and changes in atmospheric composition
What evidence is used to reconstruct past climates and to demonstrate that the Earth's climate is changing?
Analyse the proxy and direct evidence used to reconstruct past climates and to identify current climate change, including but not limited to ice cores, isotopes, tree rings, sediment cores and the instrumental temperature record
How do the oceans store and move heat and carbon, and how does this regulate global and Australian climate?
Investigate the role of the oceans in regulating climate, including but not limited to ocean currents, thermohaline circulation, carbon and heat uptake, and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation in the Australian context
Module 8: Resource Management
Module overview →How are renewable and non-renewable energy resources formed and used, and how can Australia transition to lower-emission energy?
Evaluate the formation, use and environmental impact of renewable and non-renewable energy resources, including but not limited to fossil fuels, solar, wind and hydro, and the transition to lower-emission energy in the Australian context
What environmental impacts arise from mining and waste, and how can mined land and waste be managed and rehabilitated?
Analyse the environmental impacts of mining and waste disposal and the methods used to manage and rehabilitate them, including but not limited to acid mine drainage, tailings, land degradation and site rehabilitation in the Australian context
How can resource use be made sustainable, and what can Aboriginal land-management knowledge contribute?
Evaluate models of sustainable resource use, including but not limited to ecological footprint, life cycle assessment, the circular economy and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land-management practices in the Australian context
How can mineral and energy resources be extracted and used in ways that balance economic benefit with environmental sustainability?
Evaluate the environmental impacts and sustainability of resource extraction, including but not limited to mining methods, rehabilitation, life cycle assessment and the management of renewable and non-renewable resources in the Australian context
How can water resources be managed sustainably to meet human needs while maintaining ecosystem health?
Analyse the strategies used to manage water resources sustainably, including but not limited to catchment management, allocation, water quality and the balancing of human and environmental demands in the Australian context