APES Chapter 3 Notes/ Reading Guide
Define the following and give examples of each:
• System: - A group of things that works together to run a complex set. • Open System - A system that assumes that there is no limit needed to run it. • Closed System - A system with limited resources. • Materially Closed System -A system with limited materials • Static System versus Dynamic System - The difference between a static and dynamic system is that a dynamic system is constantly changing. • Steady-State System - A system with numerous properties that are unchanging in time. 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? Why is the concept of the ecosystem so important in the study of environmental science? Should we be worried about disturbing ecosystems? Under what circumstances should we worry or not worry? Define: Average Residence Time (How is it calculated?) Discuss the difference between positive and negative feedback loops. Give an example of each. |
Define:
Flow: -Move along steady and continuously in a current Flux: -Action of flowing in or out • Lag Time -Time where an action is waited or buffered • Exponential Growth (What is the main idea- is it good or bad?) The main idea is that the number of microorganisms will increase exponentially. This is bad as a certain nutrient will eventually run out. • Doubling Time -Time needed for for a quantity to double • Overshoot and Collapse (draw and label the graph) Breakdown of economic cycles *Why does overshoot occur, and what could be done to anticipate and avoid it? - Overshoot occurs when a population uses too much resources that it will eventually shut them down. To stop or avoid this, we can do things such as help renew the renewable ones and recycle. *Discuss the idea of Environmental Unity. - Environmental Unity is like a chain effect. It is impossible to change one thing environmentally. If you change one, you affect everything else. *Discuss the idea of uniformitarianism - Uniformitarianism is assuming that natural laws of today have always been present. Meaning that the universe and it's laws have never changed and that it has always been present since forever. *What is the Gaia Hypothesis? - a hypothesis that organisms form a self sustaining system from interacting with inorganics on earth. |