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ScotlandEnvironmental Science

Area 2: Earth's Resources

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is the atmosphere made of, how does it drive weather and climate, and how do humans pollute it?

The atmosphere: its composition and layered structure, its role in weather and climate, the greenhouse effect, and the causes and effects of atmospheric pollution including acid rain and ozone depletion.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on the atmosphere, covering its composition and layered structure, its role in weather and climate, the natural greenhouse effect, and atmospheric pollution including acid rain and ozone depletion.
11 min answer →

How does the living world provide resources and services, and how can it be used sustainably?

The biosphere: biomes and their distribution, biological and biomass resources, the ecosystem services the biosphere provides, and the sustainable management of biological resources.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on the biosphere, covering biomes and what determines their distribution, biological and biomass resources, the ecosystem services provided by living systems, and the sustainable management of biological resources such as forests and fisheries.
10 min answer →

How are rocks, minerals and soil formed, and how do humans use the geosphere?

The geosphere: the structure of the Earth, the rock cycle and rock types, the formation and properties of soil, weathering and erosion, and the extraction and sustainable use of mineral resources.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on the geosphere, covering the structure of the Earth, the rock cycle and the three rock types, soil formation and properties, weathering and erosion, and the extraction and sustainable use of minerals.
11 min answer →

How does water move through the environment, and how is it managed as a resource?

The hydrosphere: the water cycle and the distribution of water, water as a resource, the causes and effects of water pollution, and the treatment of water for supply and after use.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on the hydrosphere, covering the water cycle and the distribution of fresh water, water as a resource, the causes and effects of water pollution including eutrophication, and how water is treated for supply and after use.
11 min answer →