Characteristics of a System

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Characteristics of a System
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• Made up of many parts that work together
• Each part has a specific function
• If one part is broken or missing, the
• system may not work as well or at all
• Feedback within the system provides
• information to the system
• Systems are sometimes parts of larger
• systems

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The Earth as a System

• Earths 4 Spheres
• the Sun

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The Sun

• Provides energy for most of Earths processes

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Earths Spheres

• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Lithosphere
• Biosphere

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Atmosphere

• A gaseous sphere and it envelopes the Earth,
• Consists of a mixture of gases composed primarily
  of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water
  vapor.

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Hydrosphere

• All of the water on Earth fresh and salt.
• 71 of the earth is covered by water. Most is in
  the oceans.

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Geosphere

• Solid Earth matter.
• Consists of the core, mantle and crust.
• Makes up most of Earths mass.

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Biosphere

• All life on earth, including man, and all
  organisms.
• The life zone on our planet distinguishes our
  planet from the others in the solar system.

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Earth System Science (ESS)

• The study of the interactions between and among
  events and Earths spheres
• A relatively new science (1988)

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Interconnected Spheres

• Spheres are closely connected
• Changes are often chain reactions
• A change in one sphere results in changes in
  others - called an event
• Forest fire destroys plants in an area
• Events can lead to interactions between spheres
• No plants gt erosion
• Soil in water gt increased turbidity
• Turbidity gt impacts water plants/animals

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Events

• Cause-effect
• Interactions
• Natural events
• Earthquake, hurricane, forest fires
• Human caused events
• Oil spill, air pollution, construction

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ESS Analysis

• What spheres caused the event?
• Sphere Event
• What are effects of the event on the spheres?
• Event Spheres
• How do changes in one sphere impact on other
  spheres?
• Sphere Sphere

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ESS Analysis of Hurricane Katrina

• What spheres caused the event?
• Sphere Event
• What are effects of the event on the spheres?
• Event Spheres
• How do changes in one sphere impact on other
  spheres?
• Sphere Sphere

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Understanding Interactions

• Global implications
• Helps people predict outcomes
• Preparation for natural disasters
• Environmental impacts of human activities