Water And Carbon As Natural System Flashcards
Components of a system
Inputs
Outputs
Stores
Flows
Why use systems
System models can help simplify reality
Can help understand how human and physical impacts effect the environment
Input
When matter or energy is added to a system e.g precipitation or precipitation with dissolved co2
Output
When matter or energy leaves the system e.g. runoff or dissolved carbon within runoff
Stores/Components
Where matter or energy builds up e.g. trees or rocks
Flows/Transfers
When matter or energy moves from one store to another e.g evaporation or burning
Positive feedback
Amplifies changes promoting environmental instability e.g. rising sea levels or global warming
Negative feedback
Dampen down changes in inputs or outputs promoting stability e.g.increased surface temperature leads to an increase in evaporation leads to more cloud cover leads to more reflected radiation
Dynamic equilibrium
When inputs and outputs are balanced
Open systems
Both energy and matter can leave or enter the system
Closed system
Only energy can enter or leave the system. There is a set amount of matter
The earths subsystems
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Cryosphere
System
A series of interacting components which are linked by flows/transfers of energy and material/matter.
