soil science unit 3

state variable

describes the condition or amount of something at a particular TIME

state

what is the condition of the system?

process or flow

what is moving or changing the system?

inference

what conclusion can you reasonably draw from the evidence?

systems thinking

looking at relationships among parts of a system rather than studying each part in isolation

boundary

helps define where something begins and ends

provisional

temporary, to be changed

stocks

hold memory of a system - amount of something within a reservoir (ft)

rate variable

rate of movement between reservoirs - always have time in the denominator

open system

fluxes in and out of the boundaries are greater than the fluxes that are in the internal boundaries

stock/state

how much is present (water volume in a lake)

input

what enters? - precipitation

output

what leaves? - evaporation

flow/flux

how fast it is moving? - precipitation rate

scientific empirical knowledge

systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, hypothesis testing

experimental/practitioner knowledge

knowledge gained through repeated direct experience + observation

local + place based knowledge

understanding developing through long-term interaction with a certain landscape

indigenous/traditional ecological knowledge

knowledge developed across generations through sustained relationships among people, organisms or landscapes

historical knowledge

records, archives, values, oral histories, photos, land use history

values/ethical knowledge

ought to happen, rather than what is