Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 12 Earth and Environmental Science.
This Year 12 Earth and Environmental Science curriculum explores the extraction, use, and management of Earth's resources, alongside the causes and impacts of natural hazards and climate change. Students will analyse complex environmental systems and evaluate sustainable practices to address contemporary global challenges.
01Earth Resources and Sustainability
Students investigate the formation, distribution, and extraction of renewable and non-renewable resources, evaluating their economic and societal importance.
Students investigate the formation, distribution, and extraction of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels and mineral ores. They evaluate the economic and societal reliance on these finite materials.
This topic examines the availability and utilisation of renewable resources, including water, wind, and solar energy. Students also explore the critical ecosystem services provided by the biosphere.
Students explore the scientific methods and technologies used to locate new Earth resources. This includes remote sensing, seismic surveys, and geochemical sampling.
02Managing Environmental Impacts
An analysis of the environmental consequences of resource extraction and waste generation, focusing on sustainable management and rehabilitation strategies.
An analysis of the environmental degradation caused by mining, drilling, and deforestation. Students assess the impact on local biodiversity, water quality, and soil integrity.
Students investigate the generation, treatment, and disposal of industrial and domestic waste. The topic covers the movement of pollutants through the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.
This topic focuses on the strategies used to rehabilitate degraded landscapes and promote sustainable resource use. Students evaluate the success of various environmental restoration projects.
03Earth Hazards and their Causes
Students explore the geological and meteorological mechanisms behind natural hazards, evaluating prediction methods and early warning systems.
Students explore the geological mechanisms behind earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. They analyse the relationship between plate boundaries and hazard zones.
An investigation into severe weather events, focusing on the atmospheric and oceanic conditions that create cyclones, floods, and prolonged droughts in Australia.
Students examine the technologies and scientific models used to predict natural disasters. They evaluate the effectiveness of early warning systems in mitigating human and environmental loss.
04Climate Change and Future Earth
An evaluation of the natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change, its impacts on Earth systems, and strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
This topic covers the natural and anthropogenic drivers of climate change. Students analyse historical climate data, ice cores, and the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Students assess the current and projected impacts of climate change on the biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Topics include sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and habitat loss.
An evaluation of global and local strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Students consider the economic, social, and environmental trade-offs.