Summer 2022 Notes ❀ Flashcards
What is a system? (Physical Geography)
A system is an assemblance of interrelated parts that work together by way of some driving process
What are the common characteristics of most systems?
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
What are the three kinds of properties within the boundary of a system?
The three propertires within the boundary of a system:
- Elements
- Attributes
- Relationships
What are elements in systems?
Elements are the parts that make up a system eg atoms or sand grains or animals
What are attributes in systems?
Attributes are characteristics of elements that may be percieved and measured eg size, colour etc
What are relationships in systems?
Relationships are the associations that occur between elements and attributes. These associations are based on cause and effect
What are the 8 types of systems?
8 types of systems:
- Isolated system
- Closed system
- Open system
- Morphological system
- Cascading system
- Process-response system
- Control system
- Ecosystem
What is an isolated system?A
An isolated system is a system that has no interactions beyond its boundary layer
What is a closed system?
A closed system is a system that transfers energy but not matter across its boundary to the surrounding environment
What is an open system?
An open system is a system that transfers both matter and energy across its boundary to the surrounding environment
What is a morphological system?
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
What are cascading systems?
Cascading systems are systems where its flow of energy and/or matter is more important to understand than the quantitative relationships between elements
What is a process-response system?
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.
What are control systems?
Control systems are systems that can be intelligently manipulated by the actions of humans
What are ecosystems?
Ecosystems are systems that model the relationships and interactions between the vairious biotic and abiotic compononents making up communities
What is the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surround the planet
What is the biosphere?
The biosphere is all life on the planet
What is the geosphere?
The geosphere includes the rocks and minerals on earth. It is responsible for the ocnstant recycling of rocks on earth
What is the cryosphere?
The cryosphere is all the ice (frozen water) on earth
Where is the lithosphere?
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
What is the hydrosphere?
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
What s the cryosphere?
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
What are the five layers that make up the atmosphere?
The five layers that make up the atmosphere:
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
What are the characteristics of the troposphere?
- 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%)
What are the characteristics of the stratosphere?
- Contains the ozone layer
- Temperature increases with alitutde due to the radiation absorbed by the ozone
What are the characteristics of the mesosphere?
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
What are the characteristics of the thermosphere?
- The thermosphere is located above the mesopause
- Temperature increases with alitutde
What are the characteristics of the exosphere?
- Outermost layer of the atmosphere
- The pull of earth’s gravity is so small here that molecules of gas escape into outer space
What is meant by place in human geography?
Place is a location which has different meanings to various people
What is meant by scale in human geography?
Scale is a form of ‘hierarchy’ that is interconnected - local/national/global economy for example
What is meant by threshold?
Threshold is the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain result
What is meant by mitigation?
Mitigation is the action of reducing the severity or seriousness of something
What is meant by causality?
Causality is the relationship between cause and effect
What are the different ways that places are defined and understood by geographers?
- 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
Where is water stored around the earth?
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)
What is the pedosphere?
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
When does condensation occur?
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
