A Level Environmental Science AQA
Full course content, a smart revision plan and instant past paper feedback for A Level Environmental Science AQA.
Content Overview
82 topics in 15 modules
☑️ Conditions for Life on Earth 10 topics
- Atmosphere
- Insolation
- Position in the Solar System
- Orbital Behaviour
- Magnetosphere
- Oxygen Production
- Ozone Layer
- Carbon Sequestration
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Past Conditions on Earth and Monitoring Methods
☑️ Conservation of Biodiversity 11 topics
- Resources and Sustainable Habitat Management
- Biomimetics and New Medicines
- Physiological Research
- Genetic Resources
- Ecosystem Services and their Interaction with Each Other
- Human Influence on Biodiversity
- Conserving Biodiversity: Setting Priorities
- Conserving Biodiversity: Legislation/Protocols
- Conserving Biodiversity: Captive Breeding and Release (CBR)
- Conserving Biodiversity: Habitat Conservation
- Conserving Biodiversity: Ecological Monitoring
☑️ Life Processes in the Biosphere and Conservation Planning 5 topics
- Abiotic and Biotic Factors
- Ecological Terminology
- Ecological Succession
- Maintaining Plagioclimax Communities
- Population Control and Management of Desired and Undesired Species
☑️ The Atmosphere 9 topics
- Origins and Roles of UV and IR
- Behaviour of Different Wavelengths of Electromagnetic Light
- Greenhouse Gases
- Changes in Oceans and in the Cryosphere
- Changes in Climate Processes
- Monitoring and Predicting Climate Change
- Feedback Mechanisms and Tipping Points
- Carbon Footprints and Sustainable Development
- Ozone Depletion
☑️ The Hydrosphere 5 topics
- The Impact of Unsustainable Exploitation
- Strategies for Sustainable Management
- Importance of Thermohaline Circulation in Distributing Heat and Regulating Climate
- Increasing Sustainability by Treating Contaminated Water
- Increasing Sustainability by Economical Use and Exploitation of New Sources
☑️ Mineral Resources 7 topics
- Minerals Extracted from the Lithosphere
- Recoverable Mineral Deposits
- Reserves and Resource
- Exploratory Techniques
- Factors Affecting Mine Viability
- Control of the Environmental Impacts of Mineral Exploitation
- Strategies to Secure Future Mineral Supplies
☑️ Biogeochemical Cycles 4 topics
- Importance of Biogeochemical Cycles
- The Carbon Cycle (including human influences)
- The Nitrogen Cycle (including human influences)
- The Phosphorus Cycle (including human influences)
☑️ Soils 3 topics
- Soil Fertility Affected by Human Activities
- Causes of Soil Degradation and Erosion
- Soil Management Strategies
☑️ Energy Resources 5 topics
- The Importance of Energy Supplies in the Development of Society
- The Impact of the Features of Energy Resources on their Use
- The Sustainability of Current Energy Resource Exploitation
- Strategies to Secure Future Energy Supplies
- New Energy Conservation Technologies
☑️ Pollution 4 topics
- The Properties of Pollutants
- How Environmental Features Affect the Severity of Pollution
- Principles of Pollutant Control
- Selection of Control Technologies
☑️ Agriculture 5 topics
- Agroecosystems
- Manipulation of Food Species to Increase Productivity
- Environmental Impacts of Agriculture
- Social, Economic, Political Factors which Influence Agricultural Production
- Strategies to Increase the Sustainability of Agricultural
☑️ Aquatic Food Production Systems 3 topics
- Marine Productivity
- Fishing
- Aquaculture
☑️ Forest Resources 3 topics
- The Resources and Life-Support Services Gained from Forests
- The Relationship between Forest Productivity and Biodiversity
- Deforestation
☑️ Sustainability 4 topics
- Dynamic Equilibria
- Energy
- Material Cycles
- The Circular Economy
☑️ Research Methods 4 topics
- Scientific Methodologies
- Sampling Techniques: Standard Environmental Techniques
- Sampling Techniques: Fieldwork and Laboratory Activities
- Sampling Techniques: Specialist Techniques
A Level Environmental Science AQA Revision Content
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A Level Environmental Science AQA - Conditions for Life on Earth - Atmosphere Content Preview
Conditions for Life on Earth
Atmosphere
The Composition of Earth's Atmosphere
- The Earth's atmosphere consists of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases including argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, and methane.
- Water vapour varies in amount, ranging from almost zero in polar regions to about 4% in tropical regions.
- The atmosphere is divided into several layers: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere, each having unique characteristics.
Role of the Atmosphere in Supporting Life
- The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing extreme ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night.
- The Ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
- The atmosphere provides all the necessary gaseous elements essential for life: carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen.
- Rain and other forms of precipitation deliver water essential for life from the atmosphere to Earth.
Changes in the Atmosphere & Impact on Life
- Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane) in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change.
- Climate change can result in habitat loss, species extinction, and changes in the distribution of organisms.
- Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to ocean acidification, impacting marine life.
Role of Atmospheric Gases in Life Processes
- Oxygen is essential for respiration, a process through which organisms generate energy.
- Nitrogen is an important element of amino acids, proteins, and DNA, which are critical to life. Nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into a usable form for plants by bacteria through the nitrogen cycle.
- Carbon dioxide is key for photosynthesis, the process plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy.
Feedback Mechanisms in the Atmosphere
- The carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle are key feedback mechanisms in the atmosphere. These cycles involve the movement of elements between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere and ensure the availability of these elements in a form usable for life.
- Feedback mechanisms such as the water vapour feedback and the cloud feedback play significant roles in Earth’s climate system. Changes in these systems due to human activities can amplify or reduce warming trends.
Question: What is the role of nitrogen in life processes and how is it made usable for life on Earth?
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