AP Environmental Science course outline
2017-2018
Basic terminology
Sustainability, ethics, history, nature of scientific method
Earth physical systems
chemistry, matter, energy
geology
mapping, globe literacy
Evolution, biodiversity, population ecology
biodiversity, challenges, dynamics, population growth, r and K strategists
Rule of 70, doubling time, exponential growth formula
Logistic growth formula
Ecology and species interactions
Biomes, relationships
Ecosystems
Element cycling and sinks
Biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems
Ethics and economics
e2 discussions, externalized costs, lifecycle analysis
Conservation concepts, models
Soils, food and agriculture
Soil structure, function, erosion
LAB: Soils
Water
Sources, sinks, conservation, pollution
LAB: water quality analysis
Air
Atmosphere composition, pollution, climate change
LAB: climate change (visible and IR radiation)
Energy
Basic terminology, measurement, sources and sinks
fossil fuels, renewables
Harvesting methods
Storage methods
Conservation methods, energy audits
LAB: energy audit
Health and toxicology
LD50 and ED50, relationship to pollution, endocrine disruptors, risk assessment
Waste
Solid and liquid, hazardous and non, sanitary landfills, waste water treatment
Urbanization, urban planning
Urban growth boundaries, Portland example, food deserts, urban evolution (linear, concentric, bimodal)
Sustainability
Environmental policy and legislation, international treaties, individual action, global footprints
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