Chapter 3 notes
1. System - Components that work together to perform or set of functions
* Open systems - exchange energy, matter, and information with the large external environment across their boundaries.
Example : Human body systems
* Closed systems - exchange only energy across their boundaries that do not interact with environment.
Example : Earth systems
2. Materially closed system - Similar to closed system, do not rely on matter exchange with any part outside system.
Example : A water bottle, an egg
3. Static system vs. Dynamic system
* Static system - a system in where there is no change. Its output depends on the present value of input.
Example : Solar system
* Dynamic system - a system is a system that constantly changing. Its output depends upon on future and past values.
Example : Human body system.
4. Steady - State system - A condition of a physical system or device that do not change overtime, or in which any one change is continually balanced by another, such as the stable condition of a system in equilibrium.
Example : http://sbw.kgi.edu/sbwwiki/_media/sysbio/labmembers/hsauro/numerical_methods_nonlineareq.pdf
5. Why is the idea of equilibrium in systems somewhat misleading in regard to environmental questions? Is the establishment of a balance of nature ever possible?
- The idea of equilibrium in systems somewhat misleading in regard to environmental because the environment never ever could stay stable. The establishment of a balance of nature is possible, but not forever because nothing is able to stay forever.
6. Why is the concept of ecosystem so important in the study of environmental science? Should we be worried about disturbing ecosystem? Under what circumstances should we worry or not worry?
- The concept of ecosystem is so important in the study of environmental science because people can use that knowledge to assist environment.
7. Defined - Average Residence Time - the ratio of the stock in the reservoir to the flow rate.
M/F-in = M/F-out -> F ( how much move in and out ) M ( how much there?)(stock)
8.Discuss the difference between positive and negative feedback loops. Give an example of each.
* Open systems - exchange energy, matter, and information with the large external environment across their boundaries.
Example : Human body systems
* Closed systems - exchange only energy across their boundaries that do not interact with environment.
Example : Earth systems
2. Materially closed system - Similar to closed system, do not rely on matter exchange with any part outside system.
Example : A water bottle, an egg
3. Static system vs. Dynamic system
* Static system - a system in where there is no change. Its output depends on the present value of input.
Example : Solar system
* Dynamic system - a system is a system that constantly changing. Its output depends upon on future and past values.
Example : Human body system.
4. Steady - State system - A condition of a physical system or device that do not change overtime, or in which any one change is continually balanced by another, such as the stable condition of a system in equilibrium.
Example : http://sbw.kgi.edu/sbwwiki/_media/sysbio/labmembers/hsauro/numerical_methods_nonlineareq.pdf
5. Why is the idea of equilibrium in systems somewhat misleading in regard to environmental questions? Is the establishment of a balance of nature ever possible?
- The idea of equilibrium in systems somewhat misleading in regard to environmental because the environment never ever could stay stable. The establishment of a balance of nature is possible, but not forever because nothing is able to stay forever.
6. Why is the concept of ecosystem so important in the study of environmental science? Should we be worried about disturbing ecosystem? Under what circumstances should we worry or not worry?
- The concept of ecosystem is so important in the study of environmental science because people can use that knowledge to assist environment.
7. Defined - Average Residence Time - the ratio of the stock in the reservoir to the flow rate.
M/F-in = M/F-out -> F ( how much move in and out ) M ( how much there?)(stock)
8.Discuss the difference between positive and negative feedback loops. Give an example of each.
9. Define
* Flow - Amount of transferred
* Flux - The rate of transfer
* Lag time - The delayed time between a cause and appearance
* Double time - the period of time required for a quantity to double in size or value.
* Overshoot and collapse - classic boom and bust pattern of activity wherever poor or delayed feedback or remedial response occurs. It's commonly evident in breakdown of economic cycles, social units, exhaustion of mineral resources, and inability of ecosystems to absorb waste.
* Exponential growth ( what is the main idea - is it good or bad?) - exponential growth occurs when the growth rate of the value of a mathematical function is proportion to the function's current value
10. Why does overshoot occur, and what could be done to anticipate and avoid it?
- Overshoot occurs when the capacity is less than the growth. To avoid this situation, one mustlimit the exponential
growth to keep it balance with the amount that the capacity can handle.
11. Discuss the idea of environmental unity
- The environmental unity is all of the environmental issues that is happening in the world today. Environmental unity is when something happens with one element and it affects all the other elements as well.Some of them are climate changes, energy, water, biodiversity, toxins and heavy metals, air pollution, waste management, ozone layer depletion, oceans and fisheries, and the last would be deforestation. Those are the top ten environmental issues in the world right now. These are some issues that nee to get fixed very soon.
12. Discuss the idea of uniformitarianism
- The Law of Uniformitarianism states that all phenomena that happen now will have happened in the past and will happen in the future if the conditions are right for that phenomena occurring
Example : If water boils at 212 F (100C) under certain atmospheric pressure, the it will always boil at that temperature
under the same conditions, and always has boiled at that temperature under the same conditions.
13. What is the Gaia Hypothesis?
- The theory, put forward by James Lovelock, that living matter on the earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life. The planet, or rather the biosphere, is thus likened to a vast self-regulating organism.
* Flow - Amount of transferred
* Flux - The rate of transfer
* Lag time - The delayed time between a cause and appearance
* Double time - the period of time required for a quantity to double in size or value.
* Overshoot and collapse - classic boom and bust pattern of activity wherever poor or delayed feedback or remedial response occurs. It's commonly evident in breakdown of economic cycles, social units, exhaustion of mineral resources, and inability of ecosystems to absorb waste.
* Exponential growth ( what is the main idea - is it good or bad?) - exponential growth occurs when the growth rate of the value of a mathematical function is proportion to the function's current value
10. Why does overshoot occur, and what could be done to anticipate and avoid it?
- Overshoot occurs when the capacity is less than the growth. To avoid this situation, one mustlimit the exponential
growth to keep it balance with the amount that the capacity can handle.
11. Discuss the idea of environmental unity
- The environmental unity is all of the environmental issues that is happening in the world today. Environmental unity is when something happens with one element and it affects all the other elements as well.Some of them are climate changes, energy, water, biodiversity, toxins and heavy metals, air pollution, waste management, ozone layer depletion, oceans and fisheries, and the last would be deforestation. Those are the top ten environmental issues in the world right now. These are some issues that nee to get fixed very soon.
12. Discuss the idea of uniformitarianism
- The Law of Uniformitarianism states that all phenomena that happen now will have happened in the past and will happen in the future if the conditions are right for that phenomena occurring
Example : If water boils at 212 F (100C) under certain atmospheric pressure, the it will always boil at that temperature
under the same conditions, and always has boiled at that temperature under the same conditions.
13. What is the Gaia Hypothesis?
- The theory, put forward by James Lovelock, that living matter on the earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life. The planet, or rather the biosphere, is thus likened to a vast self-regulating organism.