geo1000

3 divisions of physical geography

biogeography

climatology

geomorphology

biogeography

spatial geography for organisms

• movement, etc

climatology

geography involving weather and climate

geomorphology

geography involving landforms

remote sensing

airborne and spaceborne technology used to take photos of the earth

geomatics

using software to answer spatial questions and patterns

physical geography uses what kind of perspective

a spatial perspective to examine processes and events happening at specific locations and times

overriding focus of the study of the earth

climate change

physical geographers study what

the environment by analyzing air, water, land, and living systems

the method used by the science of geography

spatial analysis

process

a set of actions or mechanisms that operate in some special order, a central concept of geographic analysis

physical geography is the spatial analysis of all the

physical elements, processes, and systems that make up the environment

physical geography encompasses the field of

earth systems science, the area of study that seeks to understand earth as a complete entity, its history and changes to its systems due to humanity.

grain

resolution of observations

extent

size of study area

the end result of the scientific method must be

reproducible, able to be tested repeatedly, and falsifiable.

scientific method

real world →

observations/measurements →

inductive reasoning →

hypotheses →

predictions →

general theory/governing laws

hypothesis

a testable, tentative explanation for the phenomena observed. these can be tested using experimental studies in controlled labratories or natural settings.

scientific theory

an explanation constructed on the basis of several extensively tested hypotheses and can be reevaluated or expanded according to new evidence

sources of uncertainty

measurement, sampling, scenario, model, etc

reproducibility

results should be repeatable, or explainably different, with the same method

earth science uses what lines of evidence

multiple:

• observations + theory + models + proxies

  • (standardization)

earth is made up of

recycled and recycling atoms

earth’s age

4.567 billion years old

geomorphology affects the surface of the earth how

modifies it

geology affects the surface of the earth how

builds up

earth’s history encompasses long periods of what

long periods of stability (such as holoscene) punctuated by sometimes sudden and irreversible events.

how does earth’s proximity to the sun positively impact it?

the earth is able to form a magnetic field that shields us from the suns harmful rays

average distance from the earth to the sun

150 000 000km

perihelion

the day (Jan 3) when the earth is closes to the sun

aphelion

the day (July 4) where the earth is farthest from the sun

how far is the earth from the sun (light distance)

8 minutes and 20 seconds from the sun

plane of the earths orbit is the

plane of the ecliptic

earth is known as what type of planet

a goldilocks planet, AKA just right

how many comfirmed planets in the milky way

2778

how many estimated planets in the milky way

40 billion

what does NASAs kepler mission due

look for planets in the habitable zone (the area around a star where liquid water could pool on the surface)

drake equation

gives some insight into how many goldilocks planets are out there. states that in our galaxy there should be about 10 advanced civilizations and estimates 50-125 billion galaxies in the universe

atmosphere

air and water vapor

biosphere

life

lithosphere

rocks (state)

hydrosphere

water (fresh/salt)

cryosphere

frozen

ice

population of earth

8.26 billion

virtually all new population growth comes from

less developed countries (81% of the total population)

system analysis techniques began

with studies of energy and temperature in the 19th century

thermodynamics

transfer of heat from an area of high concentration to low concentration

system

any set of ordered, interrelated components and their attributes, linked by flows of energy and matter, as distinct from the surrounding environment outside the system

a system may compromise

any number of subsystems

within earths systems:

energy and matter are stored and retrieved, and energy is transformed from one type to another

matter

mass that assumes a physical shape and occupies space

energy

a capacity to change the motion of, or to do work on, matter

stock

whats stored (mass or energy)

flow/flux

what moves in/out per time

systems change when

inputs dont equal outputs (or when storage changes)

residence time

stock/outflow (how lo

examples of a stock/flow/residence framework

water in a lake, carbon in a forest, heat in the ocean

deterministic system

describes a system whose temporal or spatial evolution can be predicted exactly

examples of a deterministic system

dominos, many climate systems (by vegetation)

deterministic system output results from

known relations between dependent and independent variables

stochastic system

a system where the output is governed by a probability distribution

stochastic system is used to cover what ideas

random and chance

examples of a stochastic system

coin flips

radioactive decay

sports

systems can have what 2 types of variables

deterministic and stochastic

chaotic system

system associated with deterministic events that arent predictable

outcome events occur along a bounded attractor

example of a chaotic system

pendulum

planetary orbits

weather systems

open system

systems in nature that are not self contained

how is earth an open system

soler energy enters and heat leaves

earth systems are dynamic because

the tremendous infusion of radiant energy from the sun

as earths energy passes through the outermost edge of earths atmosphere, it is transformed into various kinds of energy:

potential energy (of position)

kinetic energy (of motion)

chemical or mechanical energy

• setting the fluid atmosphere and ocean in motion

are earths systems linear or nonlinear

nonlinear. small changesw

hysteresis/ path dependence

recovery doesnt necessarily follow the same path as change ( the return trip differs)

thresholds can create what

abrupt shifts to a new state (new equilibrium regime)

closed system

a system that is shut off from the surrounding environment so that it is self contained

how is earth a closed system

although rarely found in nature, earth is a closed system in terms of physical matter and material resources

impact of earth being a closed system

makes recycling efforts inevitable if we want a sustainable global economy

human influences on forests include direct impacts such as

• logging for wood resources

• burning to make way for agriculture

• clearing for development

• indirect impacts from human caused climate change

how do forests affect humans

outputs of carbon storage, soil stabilization, and food, and resources

how does photosynthesis affect humans

trees and other plants use sunlight as energy input, use material inputs, and produces the oxygen we breathe

forests absorb about how much of co2 released through burning of fossil fuels

1/3

steady state condition

an energy and material system that remains balanced over time, in which conditions are constant or recur

ex- bank account

steady state equilibrium

when the rates of inputs/outputs are equal and the amounts of energy and matter in storage are constant

dynamic equilibrium

when a steady state system demonstrates a changing trend over time

(variation/noise)

threshold/tipping point

when a system can no longer maintain its character, so it lurches to a new operational level

bathtub analogy

inputs: water from tap

outputs: water out the drain

water level: constant or fluctuates about an average level

• steady state equilibrium

when the water level slowly increases or decreases

• dynamic equilibrium

too much water, leg breaks and tips over

• threshold

external forcing

pushes a system from outside (ex- volcanic aerosols, solar variability, GHG changes)

feedback

a response that amplifies or dampens the change (positive/negative)

internal variability

natural wiggles generated within the system (even without new forcing)

signal vs noise

separating helps interpret climate earth/system change. signal steers, noise has no affect

positive feedback

increases the responses or stimulates the processes in a system

input and output drive the system further or toward an extreme

positive feedback examples

planet heats up:

• glaciers melt

• albedo effect (reflectivity) of snow reduced

  • planet heats up more

negative feedback

slows down/minimizes the processes in the system

input and output neutralize each others effects, stabilizing the system

negative feedback examples

planet heats up:

• trees grow further north

• trees take up CO2

• reduced greenhouse warning

mount pinatubo interactions between earths systems

response to a volcanic eruption showed the strength of the systems approach, injecting 15-20million tons of ash and sulfuric acid mist into the upper atmosphere

what is meant by earth’s spheres being coupled

a change in one can propogate to others (together)

cascades often involve what

feedbacks, not just one way effects

example cascade

drought → wildfire → lower albedo/vegetation → soil → changes → runoff/erosion → water quality impacts

leverage points

systems thinking helps identify leverage points (where intervention matters most)

model

a simplified, idealized representation of part of the real world expressed in conceptual, physical, or mathematical terms.