The physical and living aspects of the global environment interact to produce the extraordinary variety of landscapes, environments and species that occupy this planet. This unit highlights the interplay and conservation of these processes so that they continue to maintain Earth's ecosystems and inspire future generations. Earth, Climate and Life extends prior learning on (a) the influence of earthquakes, rivers, oceans, ice and wind on erosion and the movement of materials; (b) weather and climate processes and interactions at all scales, including the general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans; and (c) the origins and distribution of life, including life in air, water and soil, and the nature and role of interactions among species. These topics are integrated across various time and space scales, emphasising biomes with Australian and Southern Hemisphere examples, and will help students understand reasons for the distribution of landforms and plant and animal species. The unit prepares students for a number of third year offerings in the School, and furnishes a number of key skills in demand among employers, including field data collection, analysis and presentation.