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Understanding the Earth as a System

Understanding the Earth as a System. Earth As A System Phenomena span a range of space and time scales space scale time scale lightning: a few km’s fractions of a second tornadoes’ paths: a few 10’s of km minutes major floods: 100’s of km days

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Understanding the Earth as a System

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  1. Understanding the Earth as a System

  2. Earth As A System • Phenomena span a range of space and time scales space scale time scale • lightning: a few km’s fractions of a second • tornadoes’ paths: a few 10’s of km minutes • major floods: 100’s of km days • weather systems: ~1000 km a few weeks • ozone holes: ~2000 km a month • ocean circulation: 1000’s of km years • atmospheric composition: global decades

  3. Earth System Connections • Phenomena on all scales are connected together • some volcanic eruptions alter the atmosphere globally for years • El Nino in the tropical Pacific affects weather for months, even in the United States • passage of a weather system can spawn tornadoes which cut a swath through a forest triggering the process of forest succession • These and other connections are fundamental to the Earth system.

  4. Earth System Measurements in GLOBE • GLOBE students measure components of the Earth system and its cycles • Energy: temperatures of air, water, and soil; clouds; transparency • Water: precipitation; soil moisture, infiltration, and bulk density; land cover • Biogeochemicals: pH of precipitation, water, and soil; soil characterization; water chemistry; land cover and biology

  5. Categories of Measurement Protocols Basic Advanced Optional Special

  6. Basic Protocols Soil Field Characterization Bulk Density pH Temperature Gravimetric Moisture Land Cover MUC Qualitative Land Cover Sampling Quantitative Land Cover Sampling Manual Mapping Atmosphere Cloud Temperature Precipitation Hydrology Transparency Temperature pH Conductivity Salinity Phenology Green-Up Green-down

  7. Special Protocols Phenology Budburst Lilacs Snow Pack Water Equivalent Fire Ecology (under development)

  8. “GLOBE Study Site” 15 km x 15 km The “GLOBE Study Site, 15 x 15 km (512 x 512 pixels) centered on the school, contains the various study sites for atmosphere, soils, hydrology and biometry/land cover. Schools may select measurement sites outside of this 15 x 15 km areas, and separate imaging can be provided. Hydrology Site Soil Characterization Biology Site School Soil Moisture Site Atmosphere Site Qual/Quan Land Cover Sites

  9. Using data to understand the Earth System

  10. March Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, 1987 May

  11. Solar Energy April 1987 Average Temperature

  12. Cloud Cover September 1987 Precipitation

  13. Spheres of the Earth System • Biosphere • Atmosphere • Lithosphere (Geosphere) • Hydrosphere • Cryosphere • Anthroposphere

  14. Three principles* helpful ways to think about the Earth system • Help us understand essentially all environmental issues. • When we confront an environmental issue, we can first explore the roles of matter, energy and living organisms. From Dr. Art’s Guide to the Planet Earth http://www.planetguide.net/book/chapter_1/three_principles.html

  15. Principle #1 • Matter Cycles • Each of the elements that is vital for life exists on Earth in a closed loop of cyclical changes. From a systems point of view, Earth is essentially a closed system with respect to matter.

  16. The Rock Cycle

  17. Matter in the Universe Cycles

  18. The Periodic Table of the Elementswhat it's all made of....

  19. "In the history of the Earth, everything that has existed has been made out of the same atoms... the atoms in my body could once have been parts of rock, air, or dinosaurs."

  20. Principle #2 • Energy Flows • Earth’s energy budget • The functioning of our planet relies on a constant input of energy from the sun. This energy leaves Earth in the form of heat flowing to outer space. From a systems point of view, Earth is an open system with respect to energy.

  21. Energy flows…

  22. Principle #3 • Life webs • A vast and intricate network of relationships connects all Earth's organisms with each other and with the cycles of matter and the flows of energy. From a systems point of view, Earth is a networked system with respect to life.

  23. Understanding the Earth as a System Matter cycles Energy flows Life webs

  24. The Anthrosphere • the human dimension of Earth Systems Science • As human technology becomes more evolved, so do the impacts of human activities on the environment.

  25. “The Earth is a system. No partworks without the other parts. The parts are all connected." - Martin Jeffries, Arctic Ice Scientist

  26. Earth System Cycles • The cycling of energy, water, and certain chemical elements ties the system together • Energy from the Sun enters the top of the atmosphere; some is reflected back to space while the rest powers the Earth system • Water evaporates from the surface, condenses or freezes, falls back to the surface, runs-off or sinks into the soil, flows to aquifers, rivers, the oceans • The chemical elements C, N, P, and S cycle among living organisms, the atmosphere, sediments, soils, and water bodies

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