Topic Outline
The following outline of major topics serves to describe the scope of the AP Environ- mental Science course and exam . The order of topics in the outline holds no special significance, since there are many different sequences in which the topics can be appropriately addressed in the course . The percentage after each major topic heading shows the approximate proportion of multiple-choice questions on the exam that pertain to that heading; thus, the percentage also indicates the relative emphasis that should be placed on the topics in the course .
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 conser vation 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) Noise pollution (Sources; effects; control measures)
2. Water pollution (Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; ground- water pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems;
3. 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
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