Earth & Environmental Science: 100 interactive topics
Our planet, its resources and ecosystems, and how people can protect the environment.
About Earth & Environmental Science at secondary level
Earth & Environmental Science on LearnViz SecondaryEdu has 100 interactive topics. Earth and environment topics show how the planet’s systems shape landscapes, climate and life, with models that make these processes visible.
Every topic has a clear definition, key points written for secondary school, an animation you can control, and a three-question quiz. Topics are independent, so you can start anywhere.
How to study Earth & Environmental Science with LearnViz
- Start with a topic you already know a little about, then move to one that is new to you.
- Use the animation before you read the key points. Predicting the result first makes the explanation easier to remember.
- Finish each quiz, then review the questions you got wrong. Mark a topic complete once you can explain it in your own words.
- Sketch the process as a labelled diagram, then explain it aloud as if to a younger student.
100 topics
1The Solar System and Earth's PlaceThe Solar System consists of the Sun and the bodies that orbit it,…2The SunThe Sun is a star at the centre of the Solar System that provides…3The Moon and Its PhasesThe Moon orbits Earth every 27 days and shows different phases as…4EclipsesAn eclipse occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of…5Seasons and Earth's OrbitEarth's seasons result from its tilted axis as it moves around the…6Day, Night and Earth's RotationEarth spins once every 24 hours, causing the cycle of day and night…7Stars and ConstellationsStars are huge balls of burning gas, and constellations are…8Galaxies and the UniverseA galaxy is a vast system of stars, gas and dust held together by…9Space ExplorationSpace exploration uses rockets, satellites and probes to learn…10Satellites and Their UsesArtificial satellites orbit Earth to provide communication,…11Structure of the EarthEarth is made of layers: a solid inner core, liquid outer core,…12Rocks and MineralsRocks are made of minerals, and the three main types are igneous,…13The Rock CycleThe rock cycle shows how rocks change from one type to another…14Fossils and Geological TimeFossils are the preserved remains of ancient life, and they help…15Weathering and ErosionWeathering breaks down rock in place, and erosion carries the…16Soil FormationSoil forms slowly as rock breaks down and mixes with organic…17Plate TectonicsPlate tectonics explains how Earth's rigid plates move slowly over…18Volcanoes and Their ProductsVolcanoes erupt molten rock, ash and gases, building mountains and…19Earthquakes and SeismologyEarthquakes are vibrations caused by sudden movement along faults,…20Mountains and LandformsMountains form when plates collide or volcanoes erupt, and…21The AtmosphereThe atmosphere is a layer of gases around Earth that protects life,…22Weather ElementsWeather is described by elements including temperature, rainfall,…23Clouds and PrecipitationClouds form when water vapour cools and condenses, and…24Wind and Pressure SystemsWind is moving air that flows from high to low pressure, and global…25Storms and Extreme WeatherExtreme weather such as thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes…26Weather ForecastingWeather forecasts use observations, satellites and computer models…27Climate and Climate ZonesClimate is the long-term pattern of weather in a region, and the…28Climate Change EvidenceEvidence for climate change includes rising global temperatures,…29The Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping Earth warm…30Causes of Global WarmingGlobal warming today is mainly caused by burning fossil fuels,…31Impacts of Climate ChangeClimate change affects ecosystems, water supplies, farming and…32Mitigation and AdaptationMitigation means reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation…33The Water CycleThe water cycle moves water between oceans, air, land and living…34Oceans and Marine EcosystemsOceans cover over 70 percent of Earth and contain diverse…35Ocean Currents and ClimateOcean currents carry warm and cold water around the globe,…36Rivers, Lakes and GroundwaterFresh water is found in rivers, lakes, ice and underground, and…37Water PollutionWater pollution is the contamination of rivers, lakes and seas by…38Water ConservationWater conservation means using water wisely, since fresh water is a…39Ecosystems and BiomesAn ecosystem is a community of living things interacting with their…40Food Webs and Energy FlowEnergy flows through ecosystems from the Sun to producers and then…41BiodiversityBiodiversity is the variety of living things in an area, which…42Threats to BiodiversityThe main threats to biodiversity are habitat destruction,…43Endangered Species and ConservationEndangered species are at risk of extinction, and conservation uses…44Tropical RainforestsTropical rainforests are warm, wet forests near the Equator that…45Forests and DeforestationForests absorb carbon dioxide and shelter wildlife, but are cleared…46Deserts and GrasslandsDeserts are dry areas with sparse plants, while grasslands have…47Polar Regions and IceThe Arctic and Antarctic are cold regions with ice that reflects…48Wetlands and CoastsWetlands and coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes…49Coral ReefsCoral reefs are colourful underwater ecosystems built by tiny…50Natural ResourcesNatural resources are materials from nature that humans use, such…51Fossil FuelsCoal, oil and natural gas formed from ancient living things and…52Renewable EnergyRenewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replaced,…53Solar PowerSolar power converts sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic…54Wind PowerWind turbines capture the kinetic energy of wind to generate…55Hydropower and Tidal EnergyHydropower uses flowing water to turn turbines, and tidal power…56Geothermal and Biomass EnergyGeothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat, while biomass…57Nuclear EnergyNuclear power stations release energy by splitting uranium atoms,…58Energy Conservation and EfficiencySaving energy through insulation, efficient appliances and sensible…59Minerals and MiningMining extracts valuable minerals and metals from the ground,…60Waste and PollutionWaste is unwanted material from human activities, and pollution is…61Recycling and the Circular EconomyRecycling turns used materials into new products, and the circular…62Plastic PollutionPlastic pollution occurs when plastic waste builds up in land and…63Air PollutionAir pollution is caused by gases and particles from vehicles,…64Acid RainAcid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve in…65The Ozone LayerThe ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet…66Noise and Light PollutionNoise and light pollution are unwanted sound and artificial light…67Soil Erosion and DegradationSoil erosion removes fertile topsoil by wind and water, often made…68DesertificationDesertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert…69Sustainable AgricultureSustainable agriculture grows food in ways that protect soil, water…70Fishing and AquacultureOverfishing depletes fish stocks, so quotas and fish farming,…71Population and the EnvironmentA growing population increases demand for food, energy and water,…72Urbanisation and the EnvironmentGrowing cities use large amounts of resources and create pollution,…73Ecological FootprintAn ecological footprint measures the land and resources a person or…74Natural Hazards and DisastersNatural hazards such as floods, earthquakes and storms become…75Floods and Flood ManagementFloods happen when rivers overflow or heavy rain overwhelms…76Droughts and Water ScarcityA drought is a long period of unusually low rainfall, leading to…77TsunamisA tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves caused by undersea…78Environmental Laws and AgreementsEnvironmental laws and international agreements, such as the Paris…79Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable development meets present needs without reducing the…80Green TechnologyGreen technology uses science to reduce environmental harm,…81Transport and the EnvironmentTransport is a major source of greenhouse gases, but walking,…82Food Miles and Local FoodFood miles measure the distance food travels from producer to…83Environmental Monitoring and FieldworkScientists monitor the environment by measuring things like air…84Citizen ScienceCitizen science involves volunteers in collecting scientific data,…85Mapping and Remote SensingSatellites and maps help scientists track changes such as…86Environmental CareersCareers in the environment include ecologist, climate scientist,…87Everyday Actions for the PlanetEveryday actions such as saving energy, reducing waste, eating…88Environmental EthicsEnvironmental ethics considers our moral responsibilities to…89Gaia and Earth SystemsEarth systems science views the atmosphere, oceans, land and living…90The Future of the PlanetThe future of the planet depends on the choices we make about…91Glaciers and Ice SheetsGlaciers are masses of ice that flow slowly downhill, and ice…92Rivers and ValleysRivers erode, carry and deposit material as they flow from source…93Caves and Karst LandscapesKarst landscapes form when slightly acidic rainwater dissolves…94Islands and CoastlinesIslands form through volcanic activity, coral growth or rising…95Natural Cycles: Carbon and NitrogenThe carbon and nitrogen cycles move essential elements between air,…96Renewable vs Non-Renewable ResourcesRenewable resources replenish naturally within a human lifetime,…97Carbon FootprintA carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by…98Urban Ecology and Green SpacesUrban ecology studies how plants and animals live in cities, and…99Pollinators and Food SecurityPollinators such as bees and butterflies transfer pollen between…100Environmental Impact AssessmentAn environmental impact assessment predicts the effects of a…
Earth & Environmental Science: frequently asked questions
How many topics are in Earth & Environmental Science?
Earth & Environmental Science has 100 interactive topics on this site. Each one has its own page, so you can study them in any order.
Is Earth & Environmental Science free to use?
Yes. Every topic, animation and quiz can be used in your browser without creating an account. Your progress is saved only on your own device.
Who is the Earth & Environmental Science content for?
It is written for secondary school students studying Earth & Environmental Science, and for teachers or parents who want a clear visual explanation. It supports your syllabus and your teacher rather than replacing them.
How do I move between topics?
Each topic page has Previous and Next links, a list of related topics, and a search box in the header. You can also filter the list on this page to find a topic by name.