Basic Earth System Issues Flashcards

1
Q

Earth system science

A

Studying the Earth as if it were a single entity with interacting components

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2
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

Generalizing something based on an observation
(most major scientific theories)

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3
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

If-then conclusion based on premises
(model projections, careful, reasoning be foolproof)

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4
Q

Heisenberg uncertainty principle

A
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5
Q

Conceptual Models

A

daisy world

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6
Q

EMICs

A
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7
Q

describe GCMs

A

full-form, detailed, slow

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8
Q

Hypothesis

A

An idea or proposition that can be tested with observations or experiments about the natural world
Testable explanation for observations

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9
Q

Scientific hypothesis

A

scientific evaluation and falsifiable

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10
Q

Falsifiable

A

Sentences worded in a way that they can be proven incorrect

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11
Q

Theory

A

When multiple hypotheses are tested positive
Highest level of scientific knowledge
Rigorous

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12
Q

Disaprovability

A
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13
Q

Assumptions

A
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14
Q

Observations

A

Fact

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15
Q

Law

A

Difficult to establish
Arrogant to presume

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16
Q

System

A

components of a set that work together as one

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17
Q

Earth system

A

Atmosphere
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere

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18
Q

Anthropocene

A

recent and current geological period dominated by humans and their major impacts

19
Q

Feedback

A

how part of a system responds to change or information from another

20
Q

Positive feedback

A

amplifies stimulus or change
(ie compound interest)

21
Q

Negative feedback

A

reduces or dampens change
(ie friction)

22
Q

Negative Feedback Loop

23
Q

System positive feedback example

A

when white ice melts it is replaced by black sea water which absorbs more sunlight which increases the temperature which causes more ice to melt (repeats)

24
Q

Positive to negative feedback

25
Climate feedback
26
Feedback masking change
27
Uniformitarianism
28
Catastrophism
Sudden, devastating, and extreme events dominate POV Earth's history
29
Geological catastrophism
rocks only recorded these kinds of events and not daily ones
30
Environmental catastrophism
suggests that the system is controlled by these kinds of events (and prone to positive feedback)
31
Stock
amount in a reservoir
32
Flux
The rate of entrance and exit
33
Equilibrium
input and output are balanced
34
Residence time
stock divided by flux volume divided by outflow volume * (time/volume) = time
35
Exponential growth
when rate of increase is proportional to stock (continuous compounding) N(t) = Noe^kt
36
Doubling Time
- E^kt = 2 - kt = ln(2) = 0.693 -> t = 0.693/k
37
what does k in N(t)=Noe^kt equal?
growth rate percent/year (multiply by 100 to get rid of percent)
38
Linear system
output change is equal to input change (ie spring, fertilizer)
39
Nonlinear system
output increases or buffers input (ie glaciation, vegetation and rainfall)
40
Uncertainty
nonlinear system are unpredictable
41
Removable cognitive
42
Irremediable cognitive
43
Voluntative