§-Earth and Environmental Science syllabus
WA · SCSA← Earth and Environmental Science
Earth and Environmental Science syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the WA 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.
Unit 3: Managing Earth resources
Module overview →How does mining contaminate water, and why is acid mine drainage so persistent?
Explain the chemistry of acid mine drainage and analyse mining impacts on the hydrosphere
How does carbon move between Earth's reservoirs and how do humans disrupt it?
Explain the carbon cycle reservoirs and fluxes and how human activity disrupts the balance
What services do ecosystems provide and why is valuing natural capital important?
Explain ecosystem services and evaluate the concept of natural capital in resource management
How do biogeochemical cycles move matter through ecosystems and Earth systems?
Explain the carbon, nitrogen and water cycles and how they sustain ecosystem services
How do geological processes form coal, oil and natural gas over millions of years?
Explain how coal, oil and natural gas form and why they are non-renewable
How do magmatic and hydrothermal processes concentrate metals into ore deposits?
Explain how magmatic differentiation and hydrothermal fluids form economic mineral deposits
What is maximum sustainable yield and how is it used to manage renewable resources?
Explain maximum sustainable yield and apply it to managing fisheries and other renewable resources
How is a mined site rehabilitated, and how well can ecosystems be restored?
Describe mine rehabilitation methods and evaluate the success of ecological restoration
How do different mining methods reshape the geosphere and produce waste?
Compare mining methods and analyse their physical effects on the geosphere
How do monitoring, modelling and remote sensing support resource management decisions?
Explain how monitoring, modelling and remote sensing inform sustainable resource management
How does nitrogen cycle through ecosystems and how do humans alter it?
Explain the nitrogen cycle and how human activity disrupts it
How does phosphorus cycle through ecosystems and why does it often limit growth?
Explain the phosphorus cycle and its role in limiting ecosystem productivity
How do Earth and environmental processes form renewable and non-renewable resources?
Explain how Earth processes form renewable and non-renewable mineral and energy resources
What Earth-system energy flows drive renewable energy resources?
Explain how renewable energy resources are driven by continuous Earth-system energy flows
How does resource extraction affect Earth systems and how is rehabilitation achieved?
Analyse the effects of resource extraction on Earth systems and evaluate rehabilitation
How do sedimentary and weathering processes form ore deposits at or near the surface?
Explain how sedimentary and residual weathering processes form economic mineral deposits
How is the extraction of renewable resources managed to sustain their availability?
Explain how monitoring and modelling support sustainable management of renewable resources
How does the water cycle move and store water, and how are groundwater resources managed?
Explain the water cycle, its reservoirs and fluxes, and the management of groundwater
Unit 4: Earth hazards and climate change
Module overview →What human activities enhance the greenhouse effect and what is the evidence?
Explain human sources of greenhouse gases and evaluate the evidence for anthropogenic warming
How do feedbacks amplify or dampen climate change, and what are tipping points?
Explain positive and negative climate feedbacks and the concept of tipping points
What are the impacts of climate change and how do mitigation and adaptation differ?
Analyse the impacts of climate change and evaluate mitigation and adaptation responses
How do ice cores and oxygen isotopes reveal past temperatures and greenhouse gases?
Explain how ice cores and oxygen isotopes are used as proxies for past climate
How do tree rings, pollen, corals and sediments record past climate?
Explain how tree rings, pollen, corals and sediments are used as climate proxies
How do earthquakes generate seismic waves, and how do magnitude and intensity differ?
Explain how earthquakes generate seismic waves and distinguish magnitude from intensity
How are human activities changing the climate and what are the consequences?
Explain the enhanced greenhouse effect and evaluate responses to anthropogenic climate change
How does the greenhouse effect keep Earth warm and balance its energy budget?
Explain the natural greenhouse effect and Earth's radiation energy balance
How are geological hazards predicted, monitored and mitigated to reduce their impacts?
Evaluate methods of predicting, monitoring and mitigating geological hazards
How do hazard, risk, exposure and vulnerability differ in assessing Earth hazards?
Distinguish hazard from risk and explain how exposure and vulnerability shape disaster impact
How do changes in Earth's orbit drive the ice age cycles?
Explain how Milankovitch cycles alter insolation and drive long-term climate change
What natural processes drive climate change and how do we know past climates?
Explain natural causes of climate change and the proxy evidence for past climates
How do the three types of plate boundary control where Earth hazards occur?
Describe the three plate boundary types and explain how they control hazard distribution
How do solar variation, volcanic eruptions and ocean circulation drive natural climate change?
Explain how solar, volcanic and oceanic factors cause natural climate variability
How do tsunamis form and why do they grow so destructive near the coast?
Explain how tsunamis are generated and how they propagate and amplify at the shore
How are Earth hazards predicted and their impacts mitigated?
Explain how tsunamis form and evaluate strategies to predict and mitigate Earth hazards
How do plate tectonics cause volcanic eruptions and earthquakes?
Explain how plate boundary processes cause volcanic eruptions and earthquakes
Why do some volcanoes erupt gently while others erupt explosively?
Explain how magma composition controls eruption style and volcano type