Sinks, Carbon & Nitrogen Cycle, C-Sequestration, Fossil Fuels, Ocean Acidification, Lithosphere, Corals, Methane, Haber

Foundation

Topic 1 All

Perspectives

Systems

Sustainability

Values, Surveys, Worldviews, EVS, Environmental Movement

System Diagrams, Open & Closed Systems, Gaia, Feedback Loops, Equilibrium, Tipping Point, Model, Emergent, Resilience

Development, Justice, Inequalities, Indicators, Footprint, Biocapacity,  SDGs, Planetary Boundaries, Doughnut, Circular

Ecology

Topic 2 All

Species to Ecosystems

Energy & Biomass

Biogeochemical Cycles

Climate & Biomes

Zonation & Succession

Classification, (A)biotic, Carrying Capacity, Limiting Factors, Population Growth, Sampling, Lincoln, Niche, Life Cycles

Photosynthesis, Respiration, Thermodynamics, Food Webs, Trophic Level, Productivity, Pyramids, Non-Biodegradeable, Yield

Weather, Tricellular Model, Ocean Currents, Global Warming, Biome Shift, El Niño, Cyclones, Hurricanes, Typhoons

Transects, Environmental Gradient, Sere, Pioneer & Climax Communities, r- & K-Strategists, Plagioclimax

Biodiversity & Conservation

Topic 3 All

Biodiversity & Evolution

Human Impact on Biodiversity

Conservation & Regeneration

Natural Selection, Habitat, Species and Genetic Diversity, Richness & Evenness, Simpson's, Extinctions, Anthropocene

Direct & Indirect Threats, IUCN Red List, Tragedy of the Commons, Biodiversity Hotspots, KBAs, Indigenous Approaches

Species- & Habitat-based, ex & in situ, CITES, CBD, Flagship & Keystone, Edge Effect, Corridor, Rewilding, Ecotourism

Water

Topic 4 All

Water Systems

Water Access & Use

Aquatic Food Systems

Water Pollution

Hydrological Cycle, Glaciers, Groundwater, Run-off, Ocean Acidification, Stratification, Upwelling, Thermohaline

Phytoplankton, Macrophytes, Trawling, Ghost Fishing, Max. Sust. Yield, Collapse, MPA, Aquaculture, UNCLOS, Seals, Whales

Sewage, Run-off, Oil, Plastic, BOD, Eutrophication, Algal Bloom, Anoxic & Hypoxic, Indicator Species, Biotic Index, WQI

Land

Topic 5 All

Soil

Agriculture & Food

Soil Profile, Horizon, Texture, Weathering, Leaching, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sand, Silt, Clay, Humus, Geology

Farming, Crops, Livestock, Food Waste, Distribution and Security, Green Revolution, Fertilisers, Soil Conservation, Diet

Atmosphere & Climate Change

Topic 6 All

The Atmosphere

Climate Change - Causes & Impacts

Climate Change - Mitigation & Adaptation

Stratospheric Ozone

Tricellular Model, Greenhouse Effect, GHG, Radiation, Milankovitch Cycles, Glacial-Interglacial, Quaternary, Composition

Carbon, Enhanced, Global Warming, Biome Shift, Resilience, Albedo, Methane, Planetary Boundary, Tipping Point, Models

Global Action, Decarbonisation, NAPAs, UN, IPCC, Geoengineering, Perspectives, Tragedy of the Commons

UV Radiation, Mutation, Sunburn, Cataracts, ODS, CFC, HFC, Halogens, Ozone Holes, Montreal Protocol, Planetary Boundary

Natural Resources

Topic 7 All

Energy Sources

Solid Waste

Natural Capital & Income, Goods, Services, Ecosystem Services, Renewable, Value, Dynamic, Resource Security, SDGs, EIAs

Renewable, Fossil Fuels, Nuclear, Intermittency, Storage, Consumption, Choices, Conservation, Efficiency, Security

SDW, E-Waste, Food, Biohazardous, Pollution, Prevent, Restore, Landfill, Incineration, Recycle, Export, Energy, Compost

Human Populations & Urban Systems

Human Populations

Urban Air Pollution

Topic 9 All

Urban Systems & Urban Planning

Births, Deaths, Environmental Migration, TFR, DT, NIR, Life Expectancy, Momentum, Age-Sex Pyramid, Dependency Ratio, DTM

(Sub)urbanisation, Population Density, Compactness, Infrastructure, Rural-Urban Migration, Green Architecture, Land Use

Primary & Secondary Pollutant, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, PM, Acid Rain, Smog, Tropospheric Ozone

Tools & Inquiry

All Tools & Inquiry

Experimental Techniques

Mathematical Tools

Key, Quadrat, Transect, Lincoln, Abiotic Factors, Survey, Sampling, Population, Biomass, BOD, Productivity, Biotic Index

Calculations, Interpretation of Data, Statistics, Simpson's, Lincoln, NIR, Doubling Time

Systems Diagrams, Flow Diagrams, Models, Energy Transfer, Cladograms

Systems & Models

Designing Investigations, Processing Data, Concluding and Evaluating

Investigations

HL Lenses

HL Lenses All

Environmental Law

Environmental Economics

Environmental Ethics

Justice, Lobbying, Constitution, Local, Transboundary, UN, Conventions, Protocols, Courts, Triibunals, Biorights

Market Failure, Polluter Pays Principle, 'Green', Tragedy of the Commons, Value, GDP, Growth, Circular, Doughtnut

Moral, Values, Instrumental & Intrinsic Value, Moral Standing, Virtue, Consequentialist, Rights-Based, Appeal to Nature

IB Environmental Systems and Societies HL - Questionbank

2.3 - Biogeochemical Cycles

These new IB ESS Case Studies have been designed for you to apply your knowledge and understanding of Environmental Systems & Societies in challenging Paper 1-style contexts. Each Case Study provides you with a range of materials about a country or region and a set of questions of varying levels of difficulty. A complete markscheme identifies the ESS concepts and terminology required to achieve the marks and a sample answer allows you to see how this could be compiled into a good response. The Case Studies are organised into themes taken from the Environmental Systems and Societies HL concepts: three themes focusing on nature and four on humans. All the Case Studies are written in a Paper 1-style; our team of experienced IB ESS teachers and examiners have created both full-length and shorter examples as well as three levels of difficulty to suit a range of revision needs.

Original Paper 1-style case studies designed to enhance your skills in analysing data. With varying lengths, difficulty levels, and themes, you can select the ideal practice material for Paper 1 at any point in your ESS course.

Develop your understanding in IB ESS HL using custom-built flashcards, perfect for quick study sessions on desktop or mobile app.

IB Environmental Systems and Societies HL - Questionbank
2.3 - Biogeochemical Cycles

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IB Environmental Systems and Societies HL - Questionbank2.3 - Biogeochemical Cycles