Chapter 1: The Earth System

Question 1

Define ‘Earth system sciences’.

Answer 1

The science that studies the whole Earth as a system of many interacting parts and focuses on the changes within and between these parts.

Question 2

Define ‘Remote sensing’.

Answer 2

Continuous or repetitive collection of information about a target from a distance. Satellite remote sensing has been extremely beneficial in the field of Earth system sciences.

Question 3

Define ‘Geographic information system (GIS)’.

Answer 3

Computer-based programs which allow massive amounts of spatially referenced data points to be stored along with their characteristics.

Question 4

Define ‘System’.

Answer 4

Any portion of the universe that can be isolated from the rest of the universe for the purpose of observing and measuring changes.

Question 5

Define ‘Model’.

Answer 5

A representation of something.

Question 6

Define ‘Isolated system’.

Answer 6

A system in which the boundary prevents the system from exchanging either energy or matter with its surroundings.

Question 7

Define ‘Open system’.

Answer 7

A system in which the boundary allows the exchange of both energy and matter with the surroundings.

Question 8

Define ‘Closed system’.

Answer 8

A system in which the boundary allows the exchange of energy, but not matter, with the surroundings.

Question 9

Define ‘Box model’.

Answer 9

A simple, convenient graphical representation of a system.

Question 10

Define ‘Flux’.

Answer 10

The amount of energy flowing through a given area in a given time.

Question 11

Define ‘Reservoir’.

Answer 11

A storage place; a place in the Earth system where material or energy resides for some period of time.

Question 12

Define ‘Sink’.

Answer 12

A reservoir in which the inward flux of matter exceeds the outward flux. The opposite of a source.

Question 13

Define ‘Source’.

Answer 13

A reservoir in which more of a substance is coming from the reservoir than is flowing into it. The opposite of a sink.

Question 14

Define ‘Steady state’.

Answer 14

A state in which the flux of matter into a reservoir exactly balances the flux of mater out of the reservoir.

Question 15

Define ‘Anthroposphere’.

Answer 15

That part of the natural system that has been modified by humans for human purposes, or as a result of human activities.

Question 16

Define ‘Atmosphere’.

Answer 16

The mixture of gases, pre dominantly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor that surrounds the Earth.

Question 17

Define ‘Cryosphere’.

Answer 17

The part of the Earth’s sur face that remains perennially frozen.

Question 18

Define ‘Hydrosphere’.

Answer 18

The totality of the Earth’s water, including the oceans, lakes, streams, water underground, and all the snow and ice, including glaciers.

Question 19

Define ‘Feedback’.

Answer 19

A system response that occurs when the output of the system also serves as an input and leads to changes in the state of the system.

Question 20

Define ‘Cycle’.

Answer 20

The constant, repeated movement of matter or energy from one reservoir to another.

Question 21

Define ‘Hydrologic cycle’.

Answer 21

The movement of water between the various reservoirs of the hydrosphere.

Question 22

Define ‘Equilibrium’.

Answer 22

A system that is self-regulating is said to have the property of homeostasis, which implies a state of equilibrium, or balance. However, it is a dynamic equilibrium; that is, the system isn’t just static or unchanging. Instead, it is constantly responding to small changes and disturbances, in such a manner that it returns to a state of equilibrium.

Question 23

Define ‘Biogeochemical cycle’.

Answer 23

A natural cycle describing the movements and interactions through the Earth’s spheres of the chemicals essential to life.

Question 24

Define ‘Negative feedback’.

Answer 24

The influence of a product on the process that produces it, such that production decreases with the growth of the product.

Question 25

Define ‘Positive feedback’.

Answer 25

The influence of a product on the process that produces it, such that production increases the growth of the product.

Question 26

Define ‘Hypothesis’.

Answer 26

An unproved explanation for the way things happen.

Question 27

Define ‘Law (of science)’.

Answer 27

A statement that some aspect of nature is always observed to happen in the same way and that no deviations have ever been seen. Same as Principle.

Question 28

Define ‘Principle (of science)’.

Answer 28

A statement that some aspect of nature is always observed to happen in the same way and that no deviations have ever been seen. Same as Law.

Question 29

Define ‘Rock cycle’.

Answer 29

The cyclic movement of rock material, in the course of which rock is created, destroyed, and altered through the operation of internal and external Earth processes.

Question 30

Define ‘Tectonic cycle’.

Answer 30

The processes by which Earth’s major geological features are formed.

Question 31

Define ‘Theory’.

Answer 31

A hypothesis that has been examined and found to withstand numerous tests.