Chapter 2 Flashcards
System
A collection of interacting components that function together as a whole. It includes inputs, processes, and outputs.
Open System
A system that allows both energy and mass to move in and out across its boundary. Examples include ecosystems where matter and energy are exchanged.
Example: A pond ecosystem.
Closed System
A system that permits energy to pass in and out, but not mass. Earth’s global hydrological cycle can be considered a closed system in terms of water mass.
Example: Earth’s water cycle.
Isolated System
A system where neither energy nor mass can cross its boundaries. It remains entirely self-contained without any external interactions.
Lithosphere
The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle. It includes all landforms and the solid surface of the planet.
Hydrosphere
The “water sphere,” encompassing all water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and glaciers.
Biosphere
The zone of Earth where life exists, including all living organisms and ecosystems. It integrates with the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
Atmosphere
The layer of gases surrounding Earth, protecting life by regulating temperature and distributing air, moisture, and solar radiation.
Positive Feedback
A process in which an action is amplified, leading to more extreme conditions. For example, melting ice reduces reflectivity, causing more heat absorption and further melting.
Example: Climate change feedback loops.
Negative Feedback
A self-regulating system that works to stabilize conditions or restore equilibrium, such as body temperature regulation in humans.
Steady-State Equilibrium
A condition where a system maintains a constant flow over time, with inputs and outputs balanced, like a river’s steady discharge.
Dynamic Equilibrium
A balanced state achieved by continuous processes that change but maintain overall stability, such as the ongoing movement of tectonic plates.
Exogenic Process
Processes driven by external forces, mainly from solar energy, such as weathering, erosion, and sedimentation on Earth’s surface.
Endogenic Process
Processes powered by internal Earth forces, such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, and mountain building, fueled by energy from Earth’s interior.
Nitrogen Cycle
The continuous movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, living organisms, soil, and water. It involves processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.
