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EnglandEnvironmental Science

3.2 The physical environment

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do nutrients and elements cycle through the living and non-living parts of the planet?

The general structure of biogeochemical cycles with their stores and fluxes, the phosphorus and sulfur cycles, the role of decomposers, and how human activity alters these cycles.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.2.4, covering the structure of biogeochemical cycles, stores and fluxes, the phosphorus and sulfur cycles, the role of decomposers, and human disruption of these cycles.
11 min answer →

How are mineral resources formed, found and extracted, and what are the environmental costs of mining them?

How mineral and ore deposits form and are concentrated, methods of exploration and extraction, the concept of ore grade and reserves, and the environmental impacts of mining and ways to reduce them.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.2.3, covering how mineral deposits form, ore grade and reserves, exploration and extraction methods, the environmental impacts of mining, and ways to reduce them.
11 min answer →

What is soil made of, how does it form, and why is it so easily degraded?

The composition and formation of soil, soil horizons and texture, the properties that make a fertile soil, the causes and consequences of soil degradation, and methods of soil conservation.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.2.5, covering soil composition and formation, soil horizons and texture, the properties of a fertile soil, soil degradation, and conservation methods.
11 min answer →

What is the atmosphere made of, how is it structured, and how does it regulate the Earth's climate?

The composition and layered structure of the atmosphere, the natural greenhouse effect, how the atmosphere distributes heat and drives climate, and the importance of the ozone layer.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.2.1, covering the composition and layers of the atmosphere, the natural greenhouse effect, heat distribution and climate, and the role of the ozone layer.
11 min answer →

How does water move through the hydrosphere, and why is fresh water such a limited resource?

The distribution and stores of water on Earth, the water cycle and the processes that move water between stores, the limited availability of fresh water, and the role of oceans in climate.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Environmental Science 3.2.2, covering the distribution of water on Earth, the water cycle and its processes, the limited supply of fresh water, and the role of the oceans in regulating climate.
11 min answer →