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Biophysical Interactions
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Students learn about:
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.
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.
biophysical processes and issues
• a case study investigating ONE issue in ONE of the biophysical components, 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
• the issue should be selected from ONE of the following components:
– in the atmosphere, one issue such as greenhouse warming, acid rain, ozone depletion
- in the biosphere, one issue such as biodiversity, forestry, land clearing, fire
– in the hydrosphere, one issue such as river regulation, urban run-off, coastal sediment budgets, flood or drought
– in the lithosphere, one issue such as soil degradation, soil erosion, salinisation, soil contamination, mass movement.
• a case study investigating ONE issue in ONE of the biophysical components, 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
• the issue should be selected from ONE of the following components:
– in the atmosphere, one issue such as greenhouse warming, acid rain, ozone depletion
- in the biosphere, one issue such as biodiversity, forestry, land clearing, fire
– in the hydrosphere, one issue such as river regulation, urban run-off, coastal sediment budgets, flood or drought
– in the lithosphere, one issue such as soil degradation, soil erosion, salinisation, soil contamination, mass movement.
Students learn to:
investigate and communicate geographically by
• asking and addressing geographical questions such as
– 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?
use geographical skills and tools such as
• constructing and interpreting flow charts describing the key biophysical processes operating within a given area
• identifying, collecting and recording data about erosion and deposition from primary sources
• constructing a transect to describe the variety and distribution of plants in a specific area
• planning a field work activity to assess the impacts of flood or drought interpreting ternary graphs to describe elements of biodiversity or soil variation
• recognising the key features of changing weather patterns to describe atmospheric processes in a given location.
identify geographical methods applicable to, and useful in, the workplace such as
• contributing to Environmental Impact Assessments
• collecting and analysing field data
• environmental mapping
• the relevance of a geographical understanding of biophysical interactions to a particular vocation such as: planning hazard mitigation, practising environmental law, meteorological forecasting, local council maintenance of coastal areas.
Course syllabus taken from the NSW Board of Studies syllabus.
