Summer 2022 Notes ❀

Question 1

What is a system? (Physical Geography)

Answer 1

A system is an assemblance of interrelated parts that work together by way of some driving process

Question 2

What are the common characteristics of most systems?

Answer 2

Common characteristics of most systems:

• They have a structure that is defined by its parts and processes
• They are generalizations of reality
• They function in the same way (involves the input and output of matter) that’s then processed
• The various parts of a system have functional as well as structural relationshups betwen eachother
• The fact that functional relationships exist between the parts suggest the flow and transfer of energy/matter
• Systems exchange energy +/or matter beyond their defined boundary with the outside environment
• Functional relationships only occur because of the prescense of a driving force

Question 3

What are the three kinds of properties within the boundary of a system?

Answer 3

The three propertires within the boundary of a system:

• Elements
• Attributes
• Relationships

Question 4

What are elements in systems?

Answer 4

Elements are the parts that make up a system eg atoms or sand grains or animals

Question 5

What are attributes in systems?

Answer 5

Attributes are characteristics of elements that may be percieved and measured eg size, colour etc

Question 6

What are relationships in systems?

Answer 6

Relationships are the associations that occur between elements and attributes. These associations are based on cause and effect

Question 7

What are the 8 types of systems?

Answer 7

8 types of systems:

• Isolated system
• Closed system
• Open system
• Morphological system
• Cascading system
• Process-response system
• Control system
• Ecosystem

Question 8

What is an isolated system?A

Answer 8

An isolated system is a system that has no interactions beyond its boundary layer

Question 9

What is a closed system?

Answer 9

A closed system is a system that transfers energy but not matter across its boundary to the surrounding environment

Question 10

What is an open system?

Answer 10

An open system is a system that transfers both matter and energy across its boundary to the surrounding environment

Question 11

What is a morphological system?

Answer 11

A morphological system is a system where the morphology of a a system is understood based on its elements, though its processes are not fully understood

Question 12

What are cascading systems?

Answer 12

Cascading systems are systems where its flow of energy and/or matter is more important to understand than the quantitative relationships between elements

Question 13

What is a process-response system?

Answer 13

A process-response system is a system that intergrates the characteristics of both morphological and cascading systems. We can model the processes involved in the movement, storage and transformation of energy and/or matter between system elements.

Question 14

What are control systems?

Answer 14

Control systems are systems that can be intelligently manipulated by the actions of humans

Question 15

What are ecosystems?

Answer 15

Ecosystems are systems that model the relationships and interactions between the vairious biotic and abiotic compononents making up communities

Question 16

What is the atmosphere?

Answer 16

The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surround the planet

Question 17

What is the biosphere?

Answer 17

The biosphere is all life on the planet

Question 18

What is the geosphere?

Answer 18

The geosphere includes the rocks and minerals on earth. It is responsible for the ocnstant recycling of rocks on earth

Question 19

What is the cryosphere?

Answer 19

The cryosphere is all the ice (frozen water) on earth

Question 20

Where is the lithosphere?

Answer 20

The lithosphere is the solid outer part of the earth (the curst and top part of the upper mantle). The lithosphere is thickets at cratons, and it interacts with other earth systes to influence earth’s climate and landscapes

Question 21

What is the hydrosphere?

Answer 21

The hydrosphere is the combined mass of water found on, under and above the surface of the planet. It stores 96.5% of liquid water on earth, due to impacts such as precipitation and surface run-off

Question 22

What s the cryosphere?

Answer 22

The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the earth system, such as ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers and permafrost. The snow and ice reflect heat off the earth, which play an important role to regulatins earth’s global temperature

Question 23

What are the five layers that make up the atmosphere?

Answer 23

The five layers that make up the atmosphere:

• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Thermosphere
• Exosphere

Question 24

What are the characteristics of the troposphere?

Answer 24

• The troposphere is the closes layer to the earth’s surface.
• Thickest at equator and thinnest at poles
• Majority of the atmosphere’s mass if found in the troposphere (75-80%)

Question 25

What are the characteristics of the stratosphere?

Answer 25

• Contains the ozone layer

- Temperature increases with alitutde due to the radiation absorbed by the ozone

Question 26

What are the characteristics of the mesosphere?

Answer 26

The mesosphere is above the stratopause

• Temperature decreases with altitude
• Atmosphere is thin here but thick enough for meteors to burn up as they pass through

Question 27

What are the characteristics of the thermosphere?

Answer 27

• The thermosphere is located above the mesopause

- Temperature increases with alitutde

Question 28

What are the characteristics of the exosphere?

Answer 28

• Outermost layer of the atmosphere

- The pull of earth’s gravity is so small here that molecules of gas escape into outer space

Question 29

What is meant by place in human geography?

Answer 29

Place is a location which has different meanings to various people

Question 30

What is meant by scale in human geography?

Answer 30

Scale is a form of ‘hierarchy’ that is interconnected - local/national/global economy for example

Question 31

What is meant by threshold?

Answer 31

Threshold is the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain result

Question 32

What is meant by mitigation?

Answer 32

Mitigation is the action of reducing the severity or seriousness of something

Question 33

What is meant by causality?

Answer 33

Causality is the relationship between cause and effect

Question 34

What are the different ways that places are defined and understood by geographers?

Answer 34

• Places can be meaningul to individuals, in ways that are personal or subjective. These meanings can be expressed in terms of the perceptions of the place
• Places can be meaningful at a social or cultural level
• Places are dynamic, changing both in terms of physical, human and the meanings associated with them

Question 35

Where is water stored around the earth?

Answer 35

Water is stored in the lithosphere (the solid outer crust and upper mantle), the hydrosphere, the cryosphere and the atmosphere (as water vapour and in clouds)

Question 36

What is the pedosphere?

Answer 36

The pedosphere is the soil layer that contains both organic carbon as soil bacteria and remains of plants, and non-organic carbon from infiltration by acid rain

Question 37

When does condensation occur?

Answer 37

Condensation occurs when temperature falls and humidity increases. Aerosols (small water molecules that develop around dust)will be carried in air visibly due to condensation