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

significance, since there are many different sequences in which the topics can be

appropriately addressed in the course . The percentage after each major topic

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 conservation 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)

2 . Noise pollution

(Sources; effects; control measures)

3 . Water pollution

(Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; ground-

water pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage

treatment/septic systems; 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