EG4310 EG4310 Sustainability & Global Systems Sustainability & Global Systems Lecture 1 Lecture 1 Global Systems Global Systems Dr Mark Cresswell Dr Mark Cresswell (with some material from Dr David (with some material from Dr David Lambrick) Lambrick) Winter 2009 Winter 2009
EG4310 Sustainability & Global Systems. Lecture 1 Global Systems Dr Mark Cresswell (with some material from Dr David Lambrick) Winter 2009. Topics. Introduction Assignment 1 Global systems The importance of time Next week’s research seminar. Introduction. Why study this unit? Global - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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EG4310EG4310Sustainability & Global SystemsSustainability & Global Systems
Lecture 1Lecture 1Global SystemsGlobal Systems
Dr Mark CresswellDr Mark Cresswell(with some material from Dr David Lambrick)(with some material from Dr David Lambrick)
ExpertiseExpertise• Staff in EGS and CATEStaff in EGS and CATE
Focus of materialFocus of material• Climate and climate modellingClimate and climate modelling• AviationAviation
Assignment 1 – Set Today!Assignment 1 – Set Today!
Global SystemsGlobal Systems Earth System Earth System (biogeochemical system)(biogeochemical system) Interacting physical, chemical and Interacting physical, chemical and
biological cycles and fluxesbiological cycles and fluxes• Materially closed systemMaterially closed system• Dominant energy source – SunDominant energy source – Sun• Interactions are complex and dynamic Interactions are complex and dynamic
with feedback and forcing mechanismswith feedback and forcing mechanisms• Biology (and Humans) integral partBiology (and Humans) integral part• Time-scales vary and can be largeTime-scales vary and can be large
Global SystemsGlobal Systems
Global SystemsGlobal Systems
Global SystemsGlobal Systems Complex adaptive systemsComplex adaptive systems
• Ecosystems & biosphere are adaptiveEcosystems & biosphere are adaptive• Macroscopic features such as robustness Macroscopic features such as robustness
emerge largely from processes at lower emerge largely from processes at lower scales of organizationscales of organization
• Must try to relate processes and patterns Must try to relate processes and patterns occurring at various spatial and temporal occurring at various spatial and temporal scales and inherent organizational scales and inherent organizational complexitycomplexity
Global SystemsGlobal Systems The The climate systemclimate system is part of the is part of the
earth systemearth system
Climate = the sum of all components Climate = the sum of all components of weather such as rainfall, of weather such as rainfall, temperature, cloud cover etc temperature, cloud cover etc averaged over long time periods (30 averaged over long time periods (30 years, 60 years or even centuries)years, 60 years or even centuries)
Global SystemsGlobal Systems Areas of study in global sustainabilityAreas of study in global sustainability
• Time-scales and temporal variabilityTime-scales and temporal variability• Role of biology in a functioning systemRole of biology in a functioning system• Spatial patterns and variability in Spatial patterns and variability in
processes lead to gradients affecting processes lead to gradients affecting oceans and atmosphereoceans and atmosphere
• Connectivity of systems over space and Connectivity of systems over space and time: e.g. ENSO & teleconnectionstime: e.g. ENSO & teleconnections
• Non-linearity (small amplitude forcing Non-linearity (small amplitude forcing equals large change)equals large change)
Global SystemsGlobal Systems Global scale changeGlobal scale change
• Local changes can have global impactsLocal changes can have global impacts• Recent human activity can create Recent human activity can create