Transition work flashcards 2022
What is meant by causality?
Causality is the relationship between cause and effect
In what different ways are places defined and understood by geographers?
-Places are meaningful to individuals, in ways that are personal or subjective
-Places can be meaningful at a social or cultural level
-Places are dynamic, changing both in term of their material human and physical geographies
What is a system?
A system is an assemblage of interrelated parts that work together by way of some driving proess
What are some common characteristics of systems?
Common characteristics of systems include:
-They have a structure that is defined by their parts and processes
-They are generalisations of reality
-They function in the sam way (involves input and output of matter)
-All systems exchange energy and/or matter beyond their defined boundary to their outside environment
-Functional relationships only occur because of the prescence of a driving force
What are the three kinds of properties within the boundary of a system?
The three kinds of properties within the boundary of a system:
-Elements: the parts that make up a system eg atoms or sand grains
-Attributes - characteristics of the elements that may be perceived and measured eg size
-Relationships - the associations that occur between elements and attributes. These associations are based on cause and effect
What are the types of systems?
Types of systems include:
-Isolated system
-Closed system
-Open system
-Morphological system
-Cascading system
-Process-response system
-Control system
-Ecosystem
What is an isolated system?
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 systm?
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 system is understood based on its elements though its processes are not fully understood
What is a cascading system?
A cascading system is a system 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 integrates 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 is a control system?
A control system is a system that can be intelligently manipulated by the action of humans
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a system that models relationships and interactions between the various biotic and abiotic components making up a community
What are the features of the lithosphere?
The lithosphere:
-The solid outer part of the earth
-Made up of brittle crust and top part of the upper mantle
-Thickest at the cratons
-Interacts with other earth systems to influence earth’s climate and landscape
