Earth Systems and Earth Systems and Cycles Cycles
Dec 21, 2015
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Approaches to studying earth Approaches to studying earth science:science:– ReductionistReductionist– HolisticHolistic
Reductionist ApproachReductionist Approach– Divide earth into separate unitsDivide earth into separate units
AtmosphereAtmosphere HydrosphereHydrosphere BiosphereBiosphere LithosphereLithosphere
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Holistic ApproachHolistic Approach– Earth is studied as a unified Earth is studied as a unified
system with interacting system with interacting componentscomponents
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
System - any portion of the System - any portion of the universe that can be isolated universe that can be isolated from the rest of the universe from the rest of the universe for the purpose of observing for the purpose of observing changeschanges
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Systems AnalysisSystems Analysis
SystemSystem– A system is any portion of the A system is any portion of the
universe...universe... Is whatever the observer defines it Is whatever the observer defines it
to beto be A conceptual modelA conceptual model Limits are set for the convenience of Limits are set for the convenience of
our studyour study
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
SystemSystem– A system … is isolated from the A system … is isolated from the
rest of the universe for the rest of the universe for the purpose of observing changespurpose of observing changes
We must set boundaries around our We must set boundaries around our system to separate it from its system to separate it from its surroundingssurroundings
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
SystemSystem– Types of SystemsTypes of Systems
Isolated - system in which Isolated - system in which boundaries prevent the system from boundaries prevent the system from exchanging either matter or energy exchanging either matter or energy
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
SystemSystem– Types of SystemsTypes of Systems
Closed - system in which boundaries Closed - system in which boundaries permit the exchange of energy, but permit the exchange of energy, but not matter, with its surroundingsnot matter, with its surroundings
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
SystemSystem– Types of SystemsTypes of Systems
Open - system in which boundaries Open - system in which boundaries permit the exchange of both matter permit the exchange of both matter and energy across its boundariesand energy across its boundaries
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Open, Isolated, and Closed SystemsOpen, Isolated, and Closed Systems
The Earth SystemThe Earth System
The Earth SystemThe Earth System– Subsystems are huge reservoirs Subsystems are huge reservoirs
in which material and energy are in which material and energy are stored before moving onstored before moving on
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
The Earth SystemThe Earth System– Earth System Science - the study Earth System Science - the study
of the earth and relationships of the earth and relationships among its subsystemsamong its subsystems
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
The Earth SystemThe Earth System– Constant cycling of matter and Constant cycling of matter and
energy among subsystemsenergy among subsystems
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Energy CycleEnergy Cycle– Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle– Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles– Rock CycleRock Cycle
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Energy CycleEnergy Cycle
Internal and external energy sources Internal and external energy sources that drive all the major Earth cyclesthat drive all the major Earth cycles
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Energy CycleEnergy Cycle
Energy inputsEnergy inputs– Solar radiationSolar radiation– Geothermal energyGeothermal energy– Tidal energyTidal energy
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Energy CycleEnergy Cycle
Energy outputsEnergy outputs– ReflectionReflection– Re-radiationRe-radiation
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Hydrologic Cycle Hydrologic Cycle
Movement of water among Earth’s Movement of water among Earth’s subsystemssubsystems
Driving energy source is solar Driving energy source is solar radiationradiation
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
The Hydrologic CycleThe Hydrologic Cycle
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles
Movement of various chemicals Movement of various chemicals among Earth’s subsystemsamong Earth’s subsystems
ExamplesExamples– CarbonCarbon– NitrogenNitrogen– OxygenOxygen
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
Earth CyclesEarth Cycles– Rock CycleRock Cycle
Reflects interactions betweenReflects interactions between internal internal and and externalexternal processes processes– Internal processes driven by geothermal Internal processes driven by geothermal
energy (radioactive decay)energy (radioactive decay)– External processes driven by solar External processes driven by solar
radiationradiation
Earth Systems and Earth Systems and CyclesCycles
The Rock CycleThe Rock Cycle