Specification points

AQA A-level Environmental Science 7447

136 points in 7 topics, with AQA's codes and titles.

Codes and titles are read by a script from AQA's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: AQA’s specification.

3.1 The living environment

3.1.1 Conditions for life on Earth
3.1.1.1 Conditions that allowed early life on Earth
3.1.1.2 How the presence of life on Earth has brought about environmental change
3.1.1.3 Monitoring past conditions for life
3.1.2 Conservation of biodiversity
3.1.2.1 The importance of the conservation of biodiversity
3.1.2.1.1 Sustainable habitat management of resources
3.1.2.1.2 Conservation decisions for species not yet investigated
3.1.2.1.3 Ecosystem services and their interaction with each other
3.1.2.2 How humans influence biodiversity, with examples in a range of different context
3.1.2.3 Methods of conserving biodiversity
3.1.2.3.1 Setting conservation priorities
3.1.2.3.2 Legislation/protocols
3.1.2.3.3 Captive breeding and release programmes (CBR)
3.1.2.3.4 Habitat conservation
3.1.2.3.5 The importance of ecological monitoring in conservation planning
3.1.2.3.6 The development of new technologies for ecological monitoring
3.1.3 Life processes in the biosphere and conservation planning
3.1.3.1 Adaptation, habitat requirements and conservation
3.1.3.2 Ecological roles and interactions: terminology
3.1.3.3 The control of ecological succession in conserving plagioclimax habitats
3.1.3.4 Population control, species management and biodiversity
3.1.4 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking

3.2 The physical environment

3.2.1 The atmosphere
3.2.1.1 Atmospheric energy processes and life-support systems
3.2.1.2 Global climate change: how interconnected natural systems cause environmental change
3.2.1.3 Ozone depletion
3.2.1.4 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
3.2.2 The hydrosphere
3.2.2.1 The impact of unsustainable exploitation
3.2.2.2 Analysis and evaluation of strategies for sustainable management
3.2.2.3 Thermohaline circulation, heat and climate
3.2.2.4 Increasing sustainability by treating contaminated water
3.2.2.5 Increasing sustainability by economical use and the exploitation of new sources
3.2.2.6 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
3.2.3 Mineral resources
3.2.3.1 Minerals extracted from the lithosphere
3.2.3.2 Geological processes that produced localised concentrations of recoverable mineral deposits
3.2.3.3 Reserves and resource
3.2.3.4 How a range of exploratory techniques work
3.2.3.5 Factors affecting mine viability
3.2.3.6 Control of the environmental impacts of mineral exploitation
3.2.3.7 Strategies to secure future mineral supplies
3.2.3.8 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
3.2.4 Biogeochemical cycles
3.2.4.1 The importance of biogeochemical cycles for living organisms
3.2.4.2 The carbon cycle including human influences
3.2.4.3 The nitrogen cycle including human influences
3.2.4.4 The phosphorus cycle including human influences
3.2.4.5 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
3.2.5 Soils
3.2.5.1 How human activities affect soil fertility
3.2.5.2 Causes of soil degradation and erosion
3.2.5.3 Soil management strategies to increase sustainability
3.2.5.4 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking

3.3 Energy resources

3.3.1 The importance of energy supplies in the development of society
3.3.2 The impact of the features of energy resources on their use
3.3.3 The sustainability of current energy resource exploitation
3.3.4 Strategies to secure future energy supplies
3.3.4.1 Evaluation of improved extraction/harnessing/processing technologies related to a range of energy technologies
3.3.4.2 New energy conservation technologies
3.3.4.2.1 Transport energy conservation
3.3.4.2.2 Building energy conservation
3.3.4.2.3 Industrial energy conservation
3.3.5 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking

3.4 Pollution

3.4.1 The properties of pollutants
3.4.2 How environmental features affect the severity of pollution
3.4.2.1 Factors that affect dispersal
3.4.2.2 Environmental factors that affect rates of degradation
3.4.3 Controlling pollutants by their properties and the environment
3.4.3.1 Principles of control
3.4.3.2 Selecting pollution control technologies
3.4.3.2.1 Smoke/PM10 (Particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter)
3.4.3.2.2 Acid precipitation
3.4.3.2.3 Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
3.4.3.2.4 Hydrocarbons
3.4.3.2.5 Carbon monoxide
3.4.3.2.6 Thermal pollution
3.4.3.2.7 Oil pollution
3.4.3.2.8 Pesticides
3.4.3.2.9 Nutrient pollution
3.4.3.2.10 Acid mine drainage
3.4.3.2.11 Heavy metals
3.4.3.2.12 Solid wastes
3.4.3.2.13 Noise
3.4.3.2.14 Ionising radiation
3.4.3.3 The use of scientific knowledge to develop new pollution control technologies
3.4.4 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking

3.5 Biological resources

3.5.1 Agriculture
3.5.1.1 Agroecosystems
3.5.1.2 Improving crop and livestock gene pools
3.5.1.3 Environmental impacts of agriculture
3.5.1.4 Social/economic/political factors which influence agricultural production
3.5.1.5 Strategies to increase the sustainability of agriculture
3.5.1.6 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
3.5.2 Aquatic food production systems
3.5.2.1 Marine Productivity
3.5.2.2 Fishing
3.5.2.3 Aquaculture
3.5.2.4 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
3.5.3 Forest resources
3.5.3.1 The resources and life-support services gained from forests
3.5.3.2 The relationship between forest productivity and biodiversity
3.5.3.3 Deforestation
3.5.3.4 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking

3.6 Sustainability

3.6.1 Dynamic equilibria
3.6.1.1 Negative feedback mechanisms which resist change
3.6.1.2 Positive feedback mechanisms which increase change
3.6.1.3 Equilibrium tipping points which lead to new equilibria
3.6.1.4 Diverse systems are more likely to be resistant to change
3.6.2 Energy
3.6.2.1 Natural processes are driven by renewable energy, especially solar power
3.6.2.2 Natural processes use low energy-density resources
3.6.2.3 Most natural processes occur at low temperatures
3.6.2.4 Carbon footprints and sustainable development
3.6.3 Material cycles
3.6.3.1 Linear human systems lead to resource depletion and waste generation
3.6.3.2 Natural cycles linking waste and raw materials
3.6.3.3 Why natural waste products do not cause toxicity
3.6.4 The circular economy
3.6.4.1 The circular economy and sustainable lifestyles
3.6.4.2 Ecological footprints and their impact on biocapacity
3.6.5 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking

3.7 Research methods

3.7.1 Scientific methodologies
3.7.2 Sampling techniques
3.7.2.1 Standard environmental techniques
3.7.2.2 Fieldwork and laboratory activities
3.7.2.3 Specialist techniques
3.7.3 Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking