Systems approach

What is system thinking?

• way to simplify + contexualise a complex world, its relationships and interactions within itself + betw other systems

• helps understand how physical landscapes work + interact w each other, also what the impact of hum activity has on them

what is a system?

group of interacting parts connected by flows/transfers of energy, material or matter

what are the three types of systems?

• open

• closed

• isolated

what are open systems?

both energy + matter can leave an open syst

what are closed systems?

matter cant enter/leave but energy can

what is an isolated system?

• energy/matter cant leave/enter

• rarely exist in nature

is the earth a closed/open system?

closed as the only input is energy from the sun

what are the 4 major systems in the earth?

• Atmospheric syst: interaction of the gases around planet

• Hydrosphere syst: interaction of water on planet

• Biosphere syst: interaction of biological life w planet

• Lithosphere syst: interaction of the solid, semi-solid, and liquid land of planet's crust

what are the 5 components of a system?

• inputs

• outputs

• stores/components

• flows/transfers

• boundaries

what are inputs?

• matter/energy moving into syst from outside

• e.g. precipitation

what are outputs?

• matter/energy moving from the syst to outside the syst or to another syst

• e.g. surface runoff

what are stores/components?

• individual parts/elements of the syst

• e.g. puddles, soil, trees

what are flows/transfers?

• movem of parts within the syst

• e.g. evaporation, throughflow, fallout

what are systems affected by?

• feedback

• 2 types of feedback: +/-

what is + feedback?

• amplifies the change in the inputs/outputs

• where 1 change leads to another 

• The change becomes bigger, moves the system further away from balance

• e.g. glob warm incr permafrost thawing, which releases methane into atmosph, which causes more warming, which in turn causes more thawing

what is - feedback?

• counteracts the change in the inputs/outputs

• is self-regulating → promote stability + maintain equilibrium

• e.g. rock suffers freeze-thaw weathering, debris eventually covers the rock

• debris acts as protection, dampens the effects of further weathering of that rock

what is dynamic equilibrium?

• A system in a steady, total state of balance is difficult to find, as nature is dynamic

• Constant short-term adjustments, usually through neg feedback, are made to maintain the balance and this is referred to as 'dynamic equilibrium’