11–12Earth and Environmental Science 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Explain how heat energy is stored and distributed by ocean currents and ocean circulation

Relate changes in ocean currents to the effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the Australian climate and the timescales in which these effects occur

Describe the role of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and thermohaline circulation in the regulation of global climate and the timescales in which these effects occur

Explain changes in ocean currents due to the plate tectonic supercycle and ocean gateway closures/openings

Assess the impact of changes in ocean currents and position of the continents on global greenhouse and icehouse climate conditions

Describe the changes in Earth’s orbital eccentricity, obliquity and precession and the timescales in which these effects occur

Explain the effects of Earth’s orbital eccentricity, obliquity and precession on global climate

Relate volcanic eruptions in the Deccan and Siberian Traps to changes in global climate

Outline natural sources and sinks of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour

Use examples to analyse the roles of feedback loops and tipping points in processes that control the Earth’s climate

Describe the positive feedback between changes to glacier, sea ice and ice sheet coverage and global climate

Conduct a laboratory experiment to model the effect of surface albedo on temperature

Conduct a secondary-source investigation to assess the impact of glacier, sea ice and ice sheet coverage on climate and sea levels

Distinguish between using proxy data and the direct measurement of climatic parameters

Analyse how pollen microfossils can be used to infer past environments

Account for changes to oxygen isotope ratios due to global temperature conditions

Conduct a secondary-source investigation to analyse how changes in oxygen isotope ratios in marine microfossils can be used to infer ancient climate

Explain how ice cores containing gas bubbles and oxygen isotopes provide evidence of Earth’s past atmospheric composition and climate

Relate the oxygen isotope ratios in stalagmites, stalactites and corals to changes in Earth’s past climate

Explain how dendrochronology is used as a method of inferring Earth’s past climate

Explain how Aboriginal rock art sites provide evidence of extinct species and climate variation

Assess the validity, reliability and accuracy of using sources of proxy data and direct measurements to infer past climate

Distinguish between the natural greenhouse effect and anthropogenic greenhouse effect

Conduct a laboratory experiment to demonstrate the products of a combustion reaction

Use ice-core and Mauna Loa Observatory data to analyse changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration since the Industrial Revolution

Conduct a laboratory experiment using Newton Foote’s methodology to model the effect of increased carbon dioxide on atmospheric temperature

Discuss anthropogenic sources and global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and sulfur hexafluoride

Relate changes to land use and coverage type to changes in concentrations of greenhouse gases

Conduct a practical investigation to demonstrate the relationship between dissolved carbon dioxide concentration and water pH

Analyse the impacts of increasing ocean acidification on marine life and the flow-on effects for the biosphere

Conduct a laboratory experiment to model the impact of increasing ocean acidification on shells

Compare mitigation and adaptation as responses to anthropogenic climate change

Conduct a secondary-source investigation to suggest strategies individuals can use to reduce their carbon footprint

Conduct a scientific investigation to describe how energy use is affected by home and urban design

Assess the role of alternative energy production in reducing carbon dioxide emissions

Evaluate the effectiveness of geoengineering strategies to mitigate anthropogenic climate change

Use examples of changing agricultural and land-use practices as mitigation and adaptation strategies

Use examples to assess the role of international cooperation and agreements in reducing greenhouse emissions