INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL
SYSTEMS
Introduction
This first class provides a general overview of the nature of the course, and some administrative information. It is divided into 3 parts:
1- Aims of the Courses: introduction to the whole subject of geography and the environment
2 - Environmental Systems: consideration of how we actually approach the subject
3 - Course Administration: what to expect, how to go about the course
1 - Aims of course
"Appreciate" NC landscape -
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Landscape used here as a general term for the physical environment in which we live:
Geomorphology - the shape of the land (the landforms) meteorology/climatology - the weather and its influence pedology - the science of soil botany/ecology - the vegetation (natural or modified by human action)
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To some extent we need to consider these components separately, BUT integration is vital.
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We shall consider links between the components throughout, but shall, in
general, emphasize those linkages through concern with role that water
plays in shaping the environment. Compared to many places on earth, North
Carolina has abundant water -lots of rain, plenty of water in our rivers
and streams. This in turn influences our soils and vegetation - and
indeed, all of our lifestyle. Not everywhere has such an abundance, and we
shall look at how and why other places differ. But we shall start with a
general look at water on our planet and with a major potential
problem. We are running out of usable water. Not just the
planet as a whole, but also North Carolina, however wet we might
seem.
So part of this course will be to look at ways in which study of the physical environment can help us to solve our current problems of water shortages.
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Geographic aspects
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- integration of the pertinent parts of the landscape sciences to obtain comprehensive view of the whole physical (natural) environment concerned with aspects which influence (a) earth's surface (human dimension) (b) spatial differences emphasis on: links with human actions and spatial distributions - links to human actions humans influence environment (for good or ill) environment influences what humans can do (i.e. often provides constraints)
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- emphasis on spatial distributions
how and why things differ from place to place.
study on various scales possible - we emphasize North Carolina and its regions
why do things differ within the state?
how does the state as a whole differ from other areas?
Appreciate Landscape
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- Objective is to describe the landscape, understand how it was created and, where possible, forecast how it might change in the future (naturally or with human intervention) N.B. this gives the course a major practical component - This objective requires a 'process' approach: what processes are going on to cause the landscape to be the way it is? this requires the links to the other sciences already mentioned, using the parts needed: to ensure integration for whole natural environment, and for the scale of our interest.
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- This requires a systems approach:
2 - Environmental Systems
Real world highly complex, need way of looking at it which helps us to understand and predict
Apply Scientific Method
approach to a problem ensuring (as far as possible) facts and theories are in mutual agreement
allows development of new theory, collection of new facts, and testing of both
Organize using systems approach
Input(s) à [actions: transports/transformations/storage] à output(s)
<<<-- Positive and negative feedbacks <<<--
Practical (human) relevance: sensitivity of system to likely (changes in) inputs
+ consequence of that sensitivity
Closed systems: completely self-contained
rare in nature (planet as a whole closed for matter: air, water, carbon etc
- NOT for energy)
sometimes useful to think of systems as closed
Open systems: external inputs and outputs (most systems on earth)
Describe & analyze using models
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Use of models: technique for identifying and using major components of a system A simplification of reality which allows us to analyze a system Car as a system & model car as a model Maps are models - considered next time
Several models we use will be 'budgets' Example of financial budget: Change in Savings = [Wages + Interest + Parental Contribution] - [Room + Food + Drink + Books + Tuition + Entertainment] |
Understand and predict changes
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Use of models and systems theory helps to understand what is going on. Results: indications of where to test next (or what observations to take) to get better understanding possibility of forecasting future conditions (natural evolution or human modification) indications of uncertainty in the forecasts when forecasts go wrong, indicates of where models (or systems) need work practical value because, whatever happens: 'change is the only constant'
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