NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science case studies
NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science · Put your knowledge to work in context.
NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science is a New Zealand qualifications framework subject offered through NZQA. As described by NZQA, Earth and Space Science explores the interconnections between the land, ocean, atmosphere, and life on our planet. The Level 2 standards are assessed through a mix of internal assessment and external assessment (exams), and NZQA publishes past exams, exemplars, assessment schedules and reports for Level 2, along with assessment specifications that set out what each external examination will cover. The subject suits learners who are curious about how Earth systems interact - the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere - and who want a science pathway that connects geology, oceanography, meteorology and astronomy-style thinking about our planet. The NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science case studies are 5 cases and about 2,176 words.
1Ruapehu unrest and the school ski-field trip
At 6:00 am on a Tuesday, Ruapehu's monitoring network shows Crater Lake temperature at 42°C, up from 15°C three weeks earlier. Volcanic tremor has risen steadily for four days, and 38 small volcanic earthquakes (M1.2–2.8) were recorded in the past 24 hours.
418 words, about 2 min2Hikurangi tsunami warning at a coastal school
At 8:12 am, a M7.2 earthquake ruptures the Hikurangi subduction interface 60 km offshore and 25 km deep. The shaking at a coastal school lasts about 70 seconds and is strong enough to make some students unsteady.
472 words, about 2 min3Transit signal: planet, starspot or eclipsing binary?
A transiting planet candidate orbits a Sun-like star (1.0 solar mass, 1.0 solar radius). The light curve shows dips every 12.0 days.
496 words, about 2 min4Hot-spring DNA and the contamination problem
A student collects a water sample from a geothermal spring in the Taupō Volcanic Zone. The spring water is 75°C, pH 3.2, with high dissolved arsenic and very low oxygen.
384 words, about 2 min5Cracks above a cut slope after heavy rain
A house sits on a 25° slope underlain by loess, a wind-blown silt with high porosity and low cohesion. Above the house, a 4 m cut slope was made for the driveway, removing the toe of the natural slope.
406 words, about 2 min