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Illawarra Environmental Education Centre

Illawarra Environmental Education Centre

Telephone02 4237 6100

EmailIllawarra-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Yr 11 Biophysical interactions

Biophysical Interactions Minnamurra River

Year 11 Geography

The Biophysical Envionment

 

Location 

Minnamurra River 

Program overview

Students examine Minnamurra River as a case study, investigating the biophysical components via canoe at a range of sites to illustrate how an understanding of biophysical processes contributes to sustainable management in the environment.

The investigation will include:

  • identification and explanation of the key biophysical processes which relate to the issue
  • scale of operation
  • interactions with other components of the biophysical environment
  • the sensitivity of the biophysical environment to change
  • the importance of understanding key biophysical processes for effective management 

Inquiry and focus questions

  • What are the biophysical interactions which occur between components of the biophysical environment?
  • What are the effects of human impacts on the functioning of the hydrosphere?
  • How is the biophysical environment changing in response to climatic variations?

Supporting resources

Follow the links for supporting resources for teachers and students.

Key syllabus outcomes

Geography Yr 11 - The Biophysical Environment

  • the nature and functioning of the four components: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere in a specific biophysical environment including:
    • atmospheric processes, climatic components, climatic variation
    • operation of the water cycle and the role of water in geomorphological processes
    • parent material, slope processes, weathering, mass movements, erosion, transport and deposition, and the fluvial, aeolian and/or coastal geomorphological processes
    • the variety and distribution of plants and animals and soil formation
    • the interactions between, and the human impacts on, the functioning of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere