Gaia hypothesis – Earth’s elements are closely integrated and form a complex interacting system
that maintains climate + biogeochemical condition of Earth in balance
‘Systems theory’ views world as complex system of interconnected parts
Most systems have common characteristics:
- Abstractions of reality
- Have behaviour involving inputs, processing + outputs of material, information or energy
- Various parts of system have functional as well as structural relationships between each
other
Aeolian processes = erosion/transportation/deposition causes by wind at or near surface of earth
Coastal sinks = locations where the dominant process is deposition + depositional landforms are
created (eg spits, offshore bars)
Types of systems:
Open system Both mass + energy is transferred across system boundary
EXAMPLE: hot desert or tropical rainforest ecosystem
Closed system Flow of energy in + out system
No flow of matter across system boundary (fixed mass)
EXAMPLE: hydrological cycle
Isolated system No interaction between system + its surroundings
Closed system can contain systems inside of it whereas an open system can’t contain other systems
inside it
Tropical rainforest is an open system as matter enters (eg rainfall) and leaves (eg oxygen,
evaporation, deforestation)
that maintains climate + biogeochemical condition of Earth in balance
‘Systems theory’ views world as complex system of interconnected parts
Most systems have common characteristics:
- Abstractions of reality
- Have behaviour involving inputs, processing + outputs of material, information or energy
- Various parts of system have functional as well as structural relationships between each
other
Aeolian processes = erosion/transportation/deposition causes by wind at or near surface of earth
Coastal sinks = locations where the dominant process is deposition + depositional landforms are
created (eg spits, offshore bars)
Types of systems:
Open system Both mass + energy is transferred across system boundary
EXAMPLE: hot desert or tropical rainforest ecosystem
Closed system Flow of energy in + out system
No flow of matter across system boundary (fixed mass)
EXAMPLE: hydrological cycle
Isolated system No interaction between system + its surroundings
Closed system can contain systems inside of it whereas an open system can’t contain other systems
inside it
Tropical rainforest is an open system as matter enters (eg rainfall) and leaves (eg oxygen,
evaporation, deforestation)
