Water Cycles As Natural Systems

Question 1

What is a system?

Answer 1

A set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process

Question 2

What is an input?

Answer 2

The addition of matter or energy into a system

Question 3

What is a flow or transfer?

Answer 3

A form of linkage between one store/component and another that involves movement of energy or matter

Question 4

What is a store or component ?

Answer 4

A part of a system where energy/ mass is stored or transferred?

Question 5

What is output?

Answer 5

Where matter or energy leaves the system?

Question 6

What is a isolated system?

Answer 6

A system that has not interactions beyond its boundary

Question 7

What is a closed system?

Answer 7

They have transfers of energy both into and beyond the system boundary BUT not transfers of matter.

Question 8

What is a open system?

Answer 8

Where energy and matter can be transferred from the system across the boundary into the surrounding environment

Question 9

What is positive feedback?

Answer 9

Where the feedbacks of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock-on secondary effects
Eg, increase in CO2

Question 10

What is negative feedback?

Answer 10

Where the effects of an action are nullified by its subsequent knock-on effects
Eg. Increased use of fossil fuels

Question 11

What is dynamic equilibrium ?

Answer 11

Balance between inputs and outputs

Question 12

Systems can be classified 3 ways

Answer 12

1. Isolated
2. Closed
3. Open

Question 13

Example of positive feedback in a system

Answer 13

Global temps rise
(Warms the ocean)
Increased oceanic temperatures
(Warm water less able to disssolve gas)
Dissolved CO2 released by warmer oceans
(CO2 back into the atmosphere)
More co2 in the atmosphere
(More CO2 to act as a greenhouse gas)
Global temps rise
…..

Question 14

Examples of a negative feedback in a system?

Answer 14

Start - increased use of fossil fuels
Increase in atmospheric CO2
(Glob temps increase )
More plant growth
(Increased uptake of CO2)
Reduces atmospheric CO2
(Reduces CO2 has a ‘dampening effect’ and reduces global temperatures)

Question 15

What type of system is the water and carbon cycle ?

Answer 15

On a local scale the water and carbon cycles are both open systems, but on a global scale, they are a closed system. Each of these systems contain flows/transfers, inputs, outputs and stores/components.