2025 NOV EVSC 100 Midterm Exam REVIEW Study Notes
with key concept Planetary Boundaries & Climate Change
Simon Fraser University
Module 2- Planetary boundaries framework
Spheres of the earth
Lithosphere- rocks (earth science)
Hydrosphere- water, water movement (oceanography)
- Cryosphere: frozen water, glaciers
Atmosphere- air, climate
Biosphere- life (biology)
- All spheres are interconnected
Planetary Boundaries:
- Not a tipping point
- Boundary surpassed by humans
- Levels of human disturbance on the earth’s system which can change its function
- 6 boundaries have been crossed
Anthropocene: age of humans, humans are a primary cause of environmental change
Quadruple squeeze: simultaneous pressures on earth:
- Population growth
- Climate change
- Ecosystem decline
- Surprise
Resilient systems: systems that are adaptable and are able to deal with change and uncertainty
→ if pushed too far from reg state, system may reach tipping points- thresholds (where they
cannot recover)
1. Novel entities
2. Climate change
3. Biosphere integrity
4. Land-system change
5. Freshwater change
6. Biogeochemical flows
7. Ocean acidification
8. Atmospheric aerosol loading
9. Stratospheric ozone depletion
, Tutorial 1 - DATA
Choropleth maps- projection based on historical data
Anomaly graph- amount which variable deviates from average
Distinguish between independent and dependent variables.
1. Justify appropriate types of visualizations for specific data sets.
2. Interpret data presented in tables and graphs.
Module 3- Freshwater (crossed planetary boundary)
- 71% of earth covered in water, 97% is seawater
- 3% in freshwater from glaciers, underground and in rivers
- Only 0.009% available and useable
Groundwater: stored in aquifers
Surface water: lakes glaciers etc.
Most accessible source of water: surface area, rivers
watershed/basin: land area channeling rainfall
MetroVan has 3 watersheds: Capilano, Coquitlam and Seymour
Where does freshwater come from?
- Its renewable via a hydrologic cycle (evaporation, transpiration and
condensation)
- Most evaporation from ocean
Residence time: amt of time water stays in its natural stores
- Stays in groundwater for the longest
Functions of water in earths systems
1. Regulates climate system
2. Creates and sustains ecosystems
3. Storage of water (lakes, wetlands) interacts w/ earth systems controls sea lvl
4. Transport: moving sediment and dissolved nutrients
Blue vs green water
Blue: freshwater available to humans. changes in river flow rate compared to past
Green: water available for ecological fxn. Using soil moisture
with key concept Planetary Boundaries & Climate Change
Simon Fraser University
Module 2- Planetary boundaries framework
Spheres of the earth
Lithosphere- rocks (earth science)
Hydrosphere- water, water movement (oceanography)
- Cryosphere: frozen water, glaciers
Atmosphere- air, climate
Biosphere- life (biology)
- All spheres are interconnected
Planetary Boundaries:
- Not a tipping point
- Boundary surpassed by humans
- Levels of human disturbance on the earth’s system which can change its function
- 6 boundaries have been crossed
Anthropocene: age of humans, humans are a primary cause of environmental change
Quadruple squeeze: simultaneous pressures on earth:
- Population growth
- Climate change
- Ecosystem decline
- Surprise
Resilient systems: systems that are adaptable and are able to deal with change and uncertainty
→ if pushed too far from reg state, system may reach tipping points- thresholds (where they
cannot recover)
1. Novel entities
2. Climate change
3. Biosphere integrity
4. Land-system change
5. Freshwater change
6. Biogeochemical flows
7. Ocean acidification
8. Atmospheric aerosol loading
9. Stratospheric ozone depletion
, Tutorial 1 - DATA
Choropleth maps- projection based on historical data
Anomaly graph- amount which variable deviates from average
Distinguish between independent and dependent variables.
1. Justify appropriate types of visualizations for specific data sets.
2. Interpret data presented in tables and graphs.
Module 3- Freshwater (crossed planetary boundary)
- 71% of earth covered in water, 97% is seawater
- 3% in freshwater from glaciers, underground and in rivers
- Only 0.009% available and useable
Groundwater: stored in aquifers
Surface water: lakes glaciers etc.
Most accessible source of water: surface area, rivers
watershed/basin: land area channeling rainfall
MetroVan has 3 watersheds: Capilano, Coquitlam and Seymour
Where does freshwater come from?
- Its renewable via a hydrologic cycle (evaporation, transpiration and
condensation)
- Most evaporation from ocean
Residence time: amt of time water stays in its natural stores
- Stays in groundwater for the longest
Functions of water in earths systems
1. Regulates climate system
2. Creates and sustains ecosystems
3. Storage of water (lakes, wetlands) interacts w/ earth systems controls sea lvl
4. Transport: moving sediment and dissolved nutrients
Blue vs green water
Blue: freshwater available to humans. changes in river flow rate compared to past
Green: water available for ecological fxn. Using soil moisture
