Patterns+in+Environmental+Quality+and+Sustainability

Syllabus Content: **Atmosphere and Change**
 * Describe the functioning of the atmospheric system in terms of the energy balance between solar and longwave radiation.
 * Explain the changes in this balance due to external forcings (changes in solar radiation, changes in the albedo of the atmosphere and changes in the long-wave radiation returned to space).
 * Discuss the causes and environmental consequences of global climate change.


 * Soil and Change**
 * Explain the causes of soil degradation.
 * Discuss the environmental and socio-economic consequences of this process, together with management strategies.


 * Water and Change**
 * Identify the ways in which water is utilized at the regional scale.
 * Examine the environmental and human factors affecting patterns and trends in physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity.
 * Examine the factors affecting access to safe drinking water


 * Biodiversity and change **
 * Explain the concept and importance of biodiversity in tropical rain forests.
 * Examine the causes and consequences of reduced biodiversity in this biome.

Sustainability and the environment
 * Define the concept of environmental sustainability.
 * Evaluate a management strategy at a local or national scale designed to achieve environmental sustainability