Earth Systems And Ecology Flashcards
Why does environment issues regquire a system based approach ?
Due to the interconnected nature of earth system and cycle
Each of these as a whole are more then then its simple parts, therefore to look at their emergent properties we require a system based app/ holistic app
What are the types of system?
Open and closed
What is another word for open and closed systems?
Open sys- open box model
Closed sys- sealed air tight container
Lake is it open or closed system, why ?
Open system - receives inputs (water, soil, rivers channeling water to the lake etc) of energy and matter, producing output (evaporation, ground water recharge)
The energy can take form of tidal action, geothermal heat and solar radiation.
Dynamic eauilibrium helps
Stabalizes system
Balance system
Homeostasis
Changing and seLlf correcting
Many in human body
Why is the arctic warming faster?which FBL is it?
Positive fb loop
In cool climates, sunlight refkects off
In warm climate, snow melts exposing more dark surfaces, more light absorbed by these dark surfaces, light absorption speeds up warming, causing more dark surfaces to be exposed
Give an example if a holistic property of human, and explain why it is considered as an EP?
Concilusness- non reducible property
Seen as a whole in the brain
Not seen in one specific part if the brain
Why are there many earth systems
Envr scientist divide the earth system into many broader systems to look at each system indepe and then deoendently when connected to a larger system
This is done because the boundaries of system is overlapping - especially seen in disciplines studying envr issues
Why do scientist divide
Because the boundaries of each system are overlapping, this is seen specially in discipline studying envr issues
Name the 5 earth major subsystem
Geospher - rock /land
Atmosphere- air
Hydrosphere- water
Biosphere- life
Anthrosphere- human impacts
Geosphere
Rocks and sediments of the solid earth
Rock cycle
Not lithosphere
Atmospher
This outer layer of gasses that surround the earth
Why is the atmosphere imp?
1- The co2 is imp
-photosynthesis
- carbon cycle buffer seawater
- natural GHE
2- provides a medium through ehich energy (light and heat) can be convinuently transferred between earth subsystems
Hydrosphere
All the water on earth
Frozen parts of hydrosphere is cryosphere
2/3 of fresh water is in cryosphere (glaciers and icecaps)
Anthroposphere
Human impacts
Built and modified environmnent
Issues of the anthroposphere
Inc in erosion rates
Altered atp comp
Pollution
Habitat destruction
❌
System of biotic and abiotic comp
What does ecology study
Studies the interaction of an org with its biotic and abiotic factors
The abundance and distribution of an organism
Whats does ecosystem ecology study
Studies the flow of energy and naterial among the biotic and abiotic factors of the system
Structure (inter relationships)
Functional orocesses like photosynthesis
What powers the constant flow matter and the building up of biomass
The flow of energy in the ecosystem
Example of High metabolism/productivity
Trofical rainforest
Growth is
Primary production
Ex of macronutrients
N2 C P
Ex of micronutrients
Vitamins minerals
List environmental services
Clouds- store and putrify water, regulate climate and water flow
Trees-
- prevent erossion
- nutrient cycle
- purifies air
- proviides resources
- habitst
- form soil
Plant near seawater
- filter run off
- treat waste
Bees
- plollinate
Birds
-pest control
Fishes
- food
Seas/lakes
-provide food
-recreation
Which concepts of the the nutrient cycle imp in environment studies
Prerties of reservoire and how cyclical fluxes move materials in and out of reservoire
The hydrologic cycle
Movement of water through 4 stages
Eva
Tran
Percipitation
Runoff
