Natural Systems

• Inputs?


  when matter or energy is added to the syste,
• what is matter?


  any physical substance involved in a system
• example of matter?


  water
• outputs?


  when matter or energy leaves the system
• stores aka?


  components
• stores=?


  where matter/energy builds up
• flows aka?


  transfers
• flows=?


  when matter or energy moves from one store to another
• boundaries=?


  the limits of the system
• Systems can be what?

  open or closed
• Describe OPEN SYSTEMS ?

  Both energy and matter CAN enter and leave an open system - there are inputs and outputs of both
• Describe closed systems?


  Matter CANNOT enter or leave a closed system - it can only cycle between stores

  Energy CAN enter and leave a closed system - it can be input or output
• example of an open system?

  Drainage basins - energy from the Sun enters and leaves the system

  Water is input as precipitation, and output as river discharge into the sea
• Example of a closed system?

  The carbon cycle. Energy is input and output, but the AMOUNT of carbon on Earth stays the same because there are no inputs or outputs of matter
• When is a system described as being in equilibrium?

  If the inputs and outputs of a system are BALANCED.
• Describe a system in equilibrium.?

  Inputs and outputs of a system are balanced. flows and processes continue to happen, but in the same way at all times, so NO OVERALL CHANGES to the system
• Describe when a system is said to be in dynamic equilibrium?

  In reality there are lots of small variations in the inputs and outputs of a system

  These variations are usually small, so the inputs and outputs remain about BALANCED on average
• What can cause a system to change and establish a NEW dynamic equilibrium?

  Large, long-term changes to the balance of inputs and outputs
• What can changes trigger?

  a positive or negative effect
• What do positive feedback mechanisms do?

  AMPLIFY the change in the inputs/outputs. THIS MEANS the system responds by increasing the effects of the change, moving the system even further from its previous state.
• What do negative feedback mechanisms do?

  COUNTERACT the change in the inputs/outputs

  =The system responds by DECREASING the effects of the change,keeping the system CLOSER TO ITS PREVIOUS STATE
• What can the earth be seen as?

  one system made up of lots of subsystems
• what type of the system is the earth?

  closed. energy is inputs from the sun and output to space , but matter is not input or output to space
• what can the WHOLE EARTH SYSTEM be broken down into?

  Smaller parts called subsystems
• What subsystems does the whole earth system comprise of?

  cryosphere

  lithosphere

  biosphere

  hydrosphere

  atmosphere
• What does the CRYOsphere include?

  All the parts of the Earth system where it is cold enough for water to freeze. EG glacial landscapes
• What is the LITHOsphere?

  The outermost part of the Earth. Includes the crust and the upper parts of the mantle
• What is the BIOsphere?

  The part of the Earth's systems where living things are found. Includes all living parts of the earth - plants, animals, birds, fungi, insects, bacteria ETC
• What is the hydrosphere?

  Includes all the water on Earth- the water may be in liquid, solid or gas form.. It can be SALINE (salty) or fresh
• What is the atmosphere?


  The layer of gas between the Earth's surface and space, held in place by gravity
• All the earths subsystems are what?

  INTERLINKED by the cycles and processes that keep the Earth system as a whole running as normal
• What move between the earth subsystems?

  Matter and energy.(the output of one cycle is the input of the next, etc etc) Because of the way that matter & energy move from one subsystems to the next, the earth system is said to be a CASCADING system
• Changes that occur in one of the earth's subsystem can affect what..?


  can affect what happens in other