Water and Carbon Cycles as Natural Systems🔄 Flashcards
What is a system?
An assemblage of interrelated parts that work together by way of some driving force
What are elements?
Things that make up the system
What are attributes?
The characteristics of the elements eg hot/cold
What are relationships?
Descriptions of how the various elements work together to carry out some sort of process
What are flows/transfers?
A link between one store or component and another, along something which moves
What is a system boundary?
The edge of the system, the interface or line between one system and another
What is an input?
A point where something is added to the system
What is an output?
A point where something is removed from the system
What is a store/component?
A part of the system where something is held for a period of time
What is an open system?
One which can exchange energy and matter with its surroundings, inputs and outputs
Eg the coastal system
What is a closed system?
One which cannot exchange matter with its surroundings, but can exchange energy
Eg the water cycle
What is feedback?
When inputs or outputs suddenly change and stores are forced to change to restore equilibrium
What are 5 subsystems within the Earth as a closed system?
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Cryosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
How do the 5 subsystems of the Earth interact?
Each operates as an open system with interlocking relationships, known as a cascading system
What is an isolated system?
One which has no interaction with anything outside the system boundary, no exchange of energy or matter
