The Earth System

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The Earth System
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The Earth System Systems
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The Earth System Systems - boundary
(defined by observer)
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The Earth System Systems - boundary
(defined by observer) - reservoir
(matter/energy in system)
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The Earth System Systems - boundary
(defined by observer) - reservoir
(matter/energy in system) - fluxes (inputs an
outputs)
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The Earth System Systems - boundary
(defined by observer) - reservoir
(matter/energy in system) - fluxes (inputs an
outputs) - subsystems
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The Earth System
INPUTS
BOUNDARY
OUTPUTS
MATTER
MATTER
ENERGY
ENERGY
First and second laws????
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• WHAT PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH MIGHT WE USE TO
  FIGURE OUT HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS???

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...reductionism... define, describe, and
understand the subsystems
INPUTS
BOUNDARY
OUTPUTS
MATTER
ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY
ENERGY
LITHOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
First and second laws????
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A. The Earth System 1. Lithosphere crust -
dynamic mobile tectonic plates vulcanism upper
mantle
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A. The Earth System 2. Atmosphere 78
Nitrogen Gas (N2) 21 Oxygen Gas (O2) 1
traces of Noble Gases Carbon Dioxide
(CO2) Hydrogen Gas (H2) Methane
(CH4) water vapor (H2O)

31 km thick...
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A. The Earth System 3. Hydrosphere - 98 liquid
water (2 vapor)
- Ocean 97 (1.35 billion km3) 3.5
dissolved salts by volume - Freshwater 3 (48
million km3) Ice 2/3 (33 million
km3) Groundwater 1/3 (15.3 mill km3) Soil
trace (122,000 km3) Rivers/Lakes trace (40,000
km3) Air trace (13,000 km3)
Covers 71 of Earth surface maximum depth 11 km
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• WHAT OTHER PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH COULD WE USE TO
  DETERMINE WHETHER THE EARTH SYSTEM IS "TYPICAL"?

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Comparing Earth, Venus, and Mars
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Atmospheric Composition
Venus and Mars are fairly similar. But where
did all Earth's CO2 go? And where did all the
O2 come from????
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Comparing Earth, Venus, and Mars 1. Liquid water
has changed our planet - takes CO2 out of
atmosphere (dissolution) - erodes
lithosphere these two processes put carbon and
mineral nutrients into solution, where they can
react with one another, and be taken up by....
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Carbon-Based Life Forms!!
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Comparing Earth, Venus, and Mars 2. LIFE CHANGES
OUR PLANET - increases rates of flux between
other subsystems (evapotranspiration, nutrient
uptake, respiration) - Changes the composition
of subsystems - Life transports CO2 from the
atmosphere to living tissues or its products
(Calcium Carbonate shells), which settle in
sedimentary strata of carbonaceous rocks
(limestone and derivatives) and fossil deposits
(oil, gas).
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White cliffs of Dover
Coccolith - a phytoplankton
Omaha Beach, Normandy
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Comparing Earth, Venus, and Mars 2. LIFE CHANGES
OUR PLANET - increases rates of flux between
other subsystems (evapotranspiration, nutrient
uptake, respiration) - Changes the composition
of subsystems - Life transports CO2 from the
atmosphere to living tissue or its products
(shells), which settles in sedimentary strata of
carbonaceous rocks (limestone and derivatives)
and fossil deposits (oil, gas). -
Photosynthesis releases O2. That is where ALL of
the Earth's oxygen gas has come from.
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The Earth System Interactions (fluxes)
Evaporation
ATMOSPHERE
Volcanic gases, Particulates
Precipitation
Sedimentation
LITHOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
Erosion
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The Earth System Interactions (fluxes)
Evaporation
ATMOSPHERE
Volcanic gases, Particulates
Precipitation
BIOSPHERE
Sedimentation
LITHOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE
Erosion
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The Earth System B. Conclusions - The
current conditions on the Earth that support
human life and culture are produced by the
dynamic interplay of the earth subsystems - the
BIOSPHERE IS CRITICAL HERE. - Change the
subsystems and alter the dynamics. - Will
future conditions support human life.....?
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CLIMATE
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CLIMATE An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario
and Its Implications for United States National
Security (Pentagon Report, 2003). Global warming
should be elevated beyond a scientific debate to
a US national security concern... future wars
will be fought over the issue of survival rather
than religion, ideology or national honour.
Understanding climate matters...
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget - Solar
Constant 2 calories/cm2/min
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget - Solar
Constant 2 calories/cm2/min - 50 is
reflected, absorbed, reradiated (Most ultraviolet
light is reflected/absorbed) by the atmosphere

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- 50 is reflected, absorbed, reradiated (Most
ultraviolet light is reflected/absorbed)
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget - Solar
Constant 2 calories/cm2/min - 50 is
reflected, absorbed, reradiated (Most ultraviolet
light is reflected/absorbed) - On dry days,
only short wavelengths are scattered, creating a
blue sky.
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget - Solar
Constant 2 calories/cm2/min - 50 is
reflected, absorbed, reradiated (Most ultraviolet
light is reflected/absorbed) - On dry days,
only short wavelengths are scattered, creating a
blue sky. - When the atmosphere has high
amounts of water vapor, all wavelengths are
scattered and the sky is whiter.
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget - Solar
Constant 2 calories/cm2/min - 50 is
reflected, absorbed, reradiated (Most ultraviolet
light is reflected/absorbed) - On dry days,
only short wavelengths are scattered, creating a
blue sky. - When the atmosphere has high
amounts of water vapor, all wavelengths are
scattered and the sky is whiter. - Dust
scatters long wavelengths and creates reds and
yellows at sunset
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets a. Angle of incidence
(Latitude)
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets a. Angle of incidence
(Latitude) - angle, absorbance by
atmosphere
90
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets a. Angle of incidence
(Latitude) - angle, absorbance by
atmosphere - angle, energy per unit area

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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets a. Angle of incidence
(Latitude) - angle, absorbance by
atmosphere - angle, energy per unit area
- angle, the reflectance
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets a. Angle of incidence
(Latitude) b. Reflectance properties of surface
(albedo)
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b. Reflectance properties of surface (albedo)

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b. Reflectance properties of surface (albedo)

aside modeling climate change....
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b. Reflectance properties of surface (albedo)

aside modeling climate change.... 1) positive
feedbacks (melt ice to water, increase
absorbance, increase temp)
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b. Reflectance properties of surface (albedo)

aside modeling climate change.... 1) positive
feedbacks (melt ice to water, increase
absorbance, increase temp) 2) negative
feedbacks (heat water, increase evap., increase
clouds, decrease temp)
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b. Reflectance properties of surface (albedo)

aside modeling climate change.... 1) positive
feedbacks (melt ice to water, increase
absorbance, increase temp) 2) negative
feedbacks (heat water, increase evap., increase
clouds, decrease temp) 3) How do these interact?
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets a. Angle of incidence
(Latitude) b. Reflectance properties of
surface c. Vegetation - more layers, less hits
ground.
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets 3. Global Consequences

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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets 3. Global Consequences a.
Less energy/unit area with increasing
latitude
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets 3. Global Consequences Total
effect is dramatic reduction of energy absorbed
per unit surface area of Earth with increasing
latitude. (poles have less than half that
impacting the equator)
LOW ENERGY
HIGH ENERGY
LOW ENERGY
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets 3. Global Consequences Total
effect is dramatic reduction of energy absorbed
per unit surface area of Earth. The Earth
reradiates this energy as long-wave (heat)
radiation to atmosphere.... that is how the air
is warmed - from the Earth (not directly from the
sun).
COLD
HOT
COLD
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets 3. Global Consequences a.
Less energy/unit area with increasing latitude
(poles have less than half that impacting the
equator) b. Greater Albedo at higher latitudes
(feedback - less E, cooler temps, more snow and
ice, more albedo - less E).
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CLIMATE I. Large Scale Determinants A. Solar
Radiation 1. Average Radiation Budget 2. Local
Radiation Budgets 3. Global Consequences a.
Less energy/unit area with increasing latitude
(poles have less than half that impacting the
equator) b. Greater Albedo at higher latitudes
(feedback - less E, cooler temps, more snow and
ice, more albedo - less E). c. Differential
Energy balance creates wind and ocean
currents
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LOW ENERGY
HIGH ENERGY
LOW ENERGY
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LOW ENERGY
HIGH ENERGY
LOW ENERGY
This energy differential is responsible for wind
and ocean circulation that acts like a conveyor
belt to transfer this energy. We'll see how this
works on monday.