Systems Thinking & Earth Systems Flashcards
What’s a system?
A set of components that function together as a whole.
What are in a system? (3)
Elements, interconnections, function/purpose
Closed vs Open System
Closed: have a flow of energy but no material movement
Open: have a flow of energy and movement of materials
Simple vs Dynamic System
Simple: unchanging over time
Dynamic: changes over time
Simple vs Complex System
Simple: few variables, linear interaction, homogenous variables
Complex: a variety of variables, non-linear interaction, highly heterogeneous
What kind of system is the ecosystem?
Open, dynamic, complex
What kind of system is the Earth?
Closed, dynamic complex
What is systems thinking?
Recognizing various phenomena as a set of interconnected components that interact with one another to make a dynamic whole
social, economic, and natural worlds are part of an interconnected system that is constantly changing and humans are members of the dynamic system
What are the tools of a systems thinker? (6)
Interconnectedness, synthesis, emergence, causality, feedback loops, systems mapping`
What are the Earth’s subsystems? (5)
Atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, anthroposphere, biosphere
Why is systems thinking important in environmental science?
It recognizes different interactions (ex. NASA’s diagram of the Earth’s system in 1986 didn’t really include ecology and underrepresented the biosphere but the 2020 version even included socio-political issues as they affect consumption and emission of pollutants)
What is the gist of Pielke et al, 2022’s Ecology and Climate of the Earth?
In the lens of global policy-making, ecology and climate should belong to the same biogeophysical system. If you look at them separately, you won’t be able to make connections on how they affect one another.
Differentiate Climate and Ecology
Climate: Physical science (physics of the earth system)
Ecology: Biological science
From a systems thinking perspective, what are some examples of environmental issues/topics of coupled climate and ecological phenomenon?
E: Failure of coral reefs to continue growing over time → erosion, bleaching, reaching, higher surface temperature causing death
C: Higher sea surface temperatures cause endangered growth of reefs and having less complex and eroded reef systems decreases the opportunity for our marine systems to be able to sequester and store carbon which would then affect CO2 concentrations thus leading to more changes in climate
Name the two system boundaries and give an example of how they’re exhibited.
Time: CO2 is making Earth greener– for now (disregarding negative impacts of global warming – sea level rise, melting of glaciers, anthropogenic part of deforestation, browning)
Space: contribution of greening is different based on different land surface temperature;
For some it helps but for others it doesn’t at all
There are still different climate impacts that affects the northern hemisphere (ex. Melting of ice) that’s why greening didn’t help countries like Canada and Russia
Why is this resource important? How is it used? To what stakeholders is it valuable?
Purpose
What are they key envi and social variables that influence this resource?
Elements
What is the sensitivity of this resource to changes in each of these key variable?
Interconnections & Synthesis
What changes (thresholds) in these key variables would have to occur to result in a negative (or positive) response to this resource?
Causality & Emergence
What are the best estimates of prob for these changes to occur? What tools are available to quantify the effect of these changes? Can these estimates be skillfully predicted?
Systems Mapping
What actions (adaptation/mitigation) can be undertaken in order to minimize or eliminate the negative consequences of these changes (or to optimize a positive response)?
Feedback Loops
What are the specific recos for policymakes and other stakeholders?
Purpose
What should intersect for there to be effective policy? (3)
Ecology, Climate, and social sciences
