Welcome APES!
The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Yet there are several major unifying constructs, or themes, that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. The following themes provide a foundation for the structure of the AP Environmental Science course:
Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Yet there are several major unifying constructs, or themes, that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. The following themes provide a foundation for the structure of the AP Environmental Science course:
- Science is a process.
A. Science is a method of learning more about the world.
B. Science constantly changes the way we understand the world. - Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
A. Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
B. As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable. - The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
A. Natural systems change over time and space.
B. Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances. - Humans alter natural systems.
A. Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
B. Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment. - Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
A. Understanding the role of cultural, social and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions. - Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
A. A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.
B. Management of common resources is essential.
AP Environmental Science Course Outline
2010-2011
I. Earth Systems and Resources (10–15%)
A. Earth Science Concepts
Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity
and latitude
B. The Atmosphere
Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis
Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO
C. Global Water Resources and Use
Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use;
surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics
Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types;
erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation
II. The Living World (10–15%)
A. Ecosystem Structure
Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species;
keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic
biomes
B. Energy Flow
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological
pyramids
C. Ecosystem Diversity
Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services
D. Natural Ecosystem Change
Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter
III. Population (10–15%)
A. Population Biology Concepts
Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics
Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling
times; demographic transition; age-structure diagrams
2. Population size
Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies
3. Impacts of population growth
Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction
IV. Land and Water Use (10–15%)
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population
Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic
engineering and crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture
2. Controlling pests
Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest
management; relevant laws
B. Forestry
Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests
C. Rangelands
Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban land development
Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization
2. Transportation infrastructure
Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts
3. Public and federal lands
Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands
4. Land conservation options
Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
E. Mining
Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties
F. Fishing
Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties
G. Global Economics
Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10–15%)
A. Energy Concepts
Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics
B. Energy Consumption
1. History
Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves
and global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources
D. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types;
environmental advantages/ disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health;
radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion
E. Hydroelectric Power
Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts
F. Energy Conservation
Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit
G. Renewable Energy
Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale
hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental
advantages/disadvantages
VI. Pollution (25–30%)
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution
Sources—primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog;
acid deposition—causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor
air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant
laws
2. Noise pollution
Sources; effects; control measures
3. Water pollution
Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution;
maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems;
Clean Water Act and other relevant laws
4. Solid waste
Types; disposal; reduction
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health
Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships;
air pollutants; smoking and other risks
2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment
Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of
contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws
C. Economic Impacts
Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability
VII. Global Change (10–15%)
A. Stratospheric Ozone
Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion;
effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and
treaties
B. Global Warming
Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global
warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and
extinct species
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties
A. Earth Science Concepts
Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity
and latitude
B. The Atmosphere
Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis
Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO
C. Global Water Resources and Use
Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use;
surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics
Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types;
erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation
II. The Living World (10–15%)
A. Ecosystem Structure
Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species;
keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic
biomes
B. Energy Flow
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological
pyramids
C. Ecosystem Diversity
Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services
D. Natural Ecosystem Change
Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter
III. Population (10–15%)
A. Population Biology Concepts
Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics
Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling
times; demographic transition; age-structure diagrams
2. Population size
Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies
3. Impacts of population growth
Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction
IV. Land and Water Use (10–15%)
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population
Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic
engineering and crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture
2. Controlling pests
Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest
management; relevant laws
B. Forestry
Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests
C. Rangelands
Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban land development
Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization
2. Transportation infrastructure
Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts
3. Public and federal lands
Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands
4. Land conservation options
Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
E. Mining
Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties
F. Fishing
Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties
G. Global Economics
Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10–15%)
A. Energy Concepts
Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics
B. Energy Consumption
1. History
Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves
and global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources
D. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types;
environmental advantages/ disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health;
radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion
E. Hydroelectric Power
Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts
F. Energy Conservation
Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit
G. Renewable Energy
Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale
hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental
advantages/disadvantages
VI. Pollution (25–30%)
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution
Sources—primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog;
acid deposition—causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor
air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant
laws
2. Noise pollution
Sources; effects; control measures
3. Water pollution
Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution;
maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems;
Clean Water Act and other relevant laws
4. Solid waste
Types; disposal; reduction
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health
Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships;
air pollutants; smoking and other risks
2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment
Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of
contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws
C. Economic Impacts
Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability
VII. Global Change (10–15%)
A. Stratospheric Ozone
Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion;
effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and
treaties
B. Global Warming
Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global
warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and
extinct species
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties
