1.2 Systems and Models Flashcards
System
Consists of flows, storages, and feedback mechanisms
Systems Approach
a way of visualising a complex set of interactions that may be ecological or societal
Reductionism
Emergent Properties
a characteristic an entity gains when it becomes part of a bigger system
Model
a simplified version of reality and can be used to understand how a system works and to predict how it will respond to change
System Storage
Represented as boxes that store energy and matter
System Flows
The transfer of energy and matter from one storage to another
Open System
Energy and matter flow freely in and out of the system
Closed System
Energy flows freely in and out of the system however all matter is recycled
Isolated System
A system where energy and matter are recycled, theoretically impossible unless you count the entire universe as a whole
4 Main Environmental Systems
Lithosphere: rocks and minerals
Atmosphere: the layer of air on earth’s surface
Hydrosphere: water on and near earth’s surface
Biosphere: living organisms on earth
10% Rule
As you move up a trophic level, only 10% of the energy is used efficiently
