The Systems Concept

A system is any part of the universe that can be separated to make observations.

River

Lake

Watershed

Ridgetop

Sediment

Sed. Rock

Lindsley, 8/99

Isolated System - no exchange of energy or matter

Closed System - energy may be exchanged.

Open System - both energy, matter exchanged.

Lindsley, 8/99

Open System: sunlight and water enter from outside, heat and water leave the island

Lindsley, 8/99

Earth approximates a closed system

The resources we have are ALL we

will ever have.

Energy enters as solar radiation, leaves as heat

Almost no matter enters or leaves

Lindsley, 8/99

4 Main Subsystems of Earth

Biosphere = life

Atmosphere = air (gases)

Lithosphere = outer rigid shell

of rock

Hydrosphere = water

Lindsley, 8/99

Earth is unique because of its water

• Earth is the only terrestrial planet whose temperature cycles around the freezing point of water.

Lindsley, 8/99

Lindsley, 8/99

Conditions on Earth allow water to exist in all 3 of its phases

Lindsley, 8/99

Lindsley, 8/99

Lindsley, 8/99

Lindsley, 8/99

Lindsley, 8/99