Natural and Human Systems

1. Natural and Human Systems • What happens when systems interact? • Determine the significance of interactions between natural systems and human systems

2. TERMS • System • Ecosystem • Human System • Natural System • Systems Approach • Dynamic systems • Synergy • Atmosphere • Lithosphere • Hydrosphere • Biosphere • Cryosphere • Plate tectonics • Energy • Photons • Photosynthesis • Ultraviolet radiation • Economics • Infrastructure

3. Journey into the World of Systems • A complex set of dynamic systems makes up our world. • People depend on natural systems for survival • Natural systems influence people’s activities • Human activities have an impact on natural systems • Each region in Canada has a unique combination of natural and human systems.

4. Journey into the World of Systems • What are Systems ? • A system is made up of different parts that connect to form a whole. • Why is it important to know about systems and how they operate? • The interaction of systems on earth shapes the environment in which we live. • THEY CAN BE BROKEN INTO 2 CATEGORIES: • NATURAL SYSTYEMS • HUMAN SYSTEMS

5. Natural System Pg 48 • Systems that occur in nature • Circulation of water in the ocean • Weather and climate • Water drainage • Energy cycles • These systems work together to form the ECOSYSTEMS • Ecosystem is a community of plants and animals that interact with one another and with their physical environment (land, climate, soil, water and nutrients).

6. Human System • System that are created by humans include: • Human settlements • Transportation routes • Communication systems • Economics • Infrastructure • Energy

7. The Systems Approach • Used by geographers to study both natural and human systems • Used to helps us make better decisions as we work to create safer and healthier environments. • Can help us to protect natural systems and to use resources so they last into the future.

8. Complex Web of Systems • A complex set of Dynamic systems make up our world. • Dynamic---continually changing. • May take millions of years for the change(oil formation) • May only take a few minutes for the change (car burning gas) • In what ways can a change in one natural system influence that system? Influence another natural system?

9. Greater than the Sum of its Parts • Synergy • The whole system is greater than the sum of it parts • WATER (2 parts hydrogen/1 part oxygen • CAR (engine, tires, brakes)

10. Earth’s Natural Sytems • Earth is made up of 4 spheres that are interconnected: • Atmosphere • Lithosphere • Hydrosphere • Biosphere • Assign Worksheet

11. Atmosphere • is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. • It protects life on Earth by absorbing ultravioletsolar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night. • Limb view, of the Earth's atmosphere. Colours roughly denote the layers of the atmosphere.

12. Atmosphere • Consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen but also traces of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. • Blue light is scattered more than other wavelengths by the gases in the atmosphere, giving the Earth a blue halo when seen from space

13. Lithosphere • contains : • all of the cold, hard solid land of the planet's crust (surface), • the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and the liquid land near the center of the planet.

14. Lithosphere • *The surface of the lithosphere is very uneven (see image below). • There are high mountain ranges like the Rockies and Andes (shown in red), • huge plains or flat areas like those in Texas, Iowa, and Brazil (shown in green), • and deep valleys along the ocean floor (shown in blue).

15. CRUSTAL PLATES: pieces of the lithosphere PLATE TECTONICS: slow movement of theses plates on the underlying mantle. This movement causes mountain-building, volcanoes and earthquakes. More on this later!

16. Hydrosphere • contains all the solid, liquid, and gaseous water of the planet. • Fresh • Salty (Ninety-seven percent) • Frozen • Covers 70% of the Earth’s surface

17. Hydrosphere • Some scientists place frozen water--glaciers, icecaps, and icebergs--in its own sphere called the "cryosphere”.

18. Biosphere • contains all the planet's living things. • This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. • Within the biosphere, living things form ecological communities based on the physical surroundings of an area. • These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that exist within the biosphere.

19. Energy • The fuel of LIFE • Most of the Earth's energy comes from the Sun. • The rest of it comes from deep inside the Earth • Activity pg 142 quide next slide • Go to http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov;

20. ACTIVITY • You will be given an envelope full of pictures • Divide your poster into 4 sections: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere and Biosphere • Below each title, Write a brief description of each sphere • Glue the pictures on the appropriate area • Title the poster “Natural Systems of Earth: The Spheres” • Make it neat and tidy and add some personal creativity.

21. The geography of life: Natural Systems • Without nature’s system.....no life on Earth (pg 54-56) • The atmosphere regulates temperature on Earth • This makes water available to living things in liquid form • Discuss the Hydrologic Cycle...do activity

23. Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. • It covers 70% of Earth's surface.

24. Water: • Most of us take water for granted. • Flush toilets, run sinks, water yards. Etc • Dripping faucets waste 10 % of water piped into our homes. • Many drier areas of the world treat water as if it is gold.

25. Water: • We need water to live • 2/3 of our body is water • Crops and livestock require water • Average Canadian uses 300 liters of water per day • Add production/manufacturing it is 4000 liters

26. Average daily residential water use per capita (litres per person): • United States - 425L • Canada - 326L • Italy - 250L • Sweden - 200L • France - 150L • Israel - 135L

27. W a t e r P o l l u t i o n • 3 main types of water pollution: • Biological Pollution • Physical Pollution • Chemical Pollution

28. Biological Pollution • Bacteria and algae that enter lakes and rivers. • Sewage from cities and towns are the largest source. • Solved by Reducing sewage from entering water supplies (sewage treatment plants)

29. Physical Pollution • Least harmful but most obvious. • Floating garbage, paper, tin cans etc. • These are easily seen and clean-up and prevention is relative simple.

30. Chemical Pollution • Most Dangerous • Dumping of poisonous chemicals into rivers and lakes

31. Chemical Pollution • Clean-Up there are 2 problems • Not able to completely stop chemicals from reaching water supplies • Do not have the technology to clean-up chemicals once they are in the water.

32. Decay Cycle • One animals waste is another Animal’s dinner. • Food Web • Decomposers • Producers • Consumers

33. Decay Cycle There is no waste in natural systems Creatures such as fungi and bacteria act as Decomposers: They eat and recycle nature’s waste materials As leaves fall to the ground, decomposers break them down down and they decay. The remaining nutrients enrich the soil and help fallen seeds begin to grow (Germinate) on the forest floor This leads to the growth of more trees, which eventually leads to more fallen leaves The cycle continues…

34. Characteristics of Natural Systems • They are driven by energy from the sun • Support all living things, including humans • Are connected to one another in a complex network of relationships • Decompose and recycle all wastes • Can be affected by natural events and human influences • Are not well understood by humans • Operate on very long timelines, from hundreds to millions of years • Operate in all four of the earth’s spheres • Display synergy

35. Natural Systems • Do questions #3 on pg 57 • Complete the following: • Given a natural disaster such as • Earthquake, hurricane, flood or drought) • Explain the immediate and long term consequences it would have on two natural systems in your area.

36. Human Systems (pg 58) • People depend on natural systems for survival • Human activities have an impact on natural systems • Natural systems influence people’s activities

37. Human System • System that are created by humans include: • Human settlements • Transportation routes • Communication systems • Economics • Infrastructure • Energy

38. Human Systems • Human systems are developed as a means to fulfill peoples’ individual and collective needs and wants. • Create a list of personal needs and wants. • Explain how you meet those needs and wants. • Classify your needs and wants into the appropriate human system.

39. Activity • Imagine you and your classmates have been stranded on a deserted island. • What would be the three most important human systems you would need to establish in order to survive? • Why? • Once completed, rank the human systems in order of importance and justify your reasoning.

40. Transportation & Communication Systems • Transportation Systems • Interconnecting network of roads, trains, air travel, shipping and cycling routes. • Shopping for clothes, music, sports equipment etc. is all part of our ECONOMIC System as well as our transportation system.

41. Transportation & Communication Systems • Communication Systems • is a fundamental function of every society. Language, drawing, and writing have always enabled mankind to evolve and to pass on knowledge and values. • Interconnecting network of: • Phone • Television • Radio • Cell phones • Internet web pages • News papers

42. Infrastructure: how it all works PG.60

43. Infrastructure: How it all works • The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society • such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons

44. Infrastructure: How it all works • Water crisis • Read Case Study page 62 and do questions page 63

45. Natural & Human Systems Interact • Humans depend on nature for their needs • We cannot help but change the natural environment as we use its resources • What are the negative and positive consequences of these actions?? • Some examples… • Water pollution, smog, pesticide use, garbage dumps, toxic chemicals

46. Chemicals and Pollution Human health and environmental health are closely linked Example… Using pesticides on our lawns or pouring paint or cleaners down the drain all add to the toxic chemicals found in your water system Many water treatment plants cannot remove toxic waste from water

47. Natural & Human Systems Interact • Human activities like burning fossil fuels to run cars, trucks, factories, heat buildings, etc. have started to change the make up of gases in the atmosphere • This has lead to changes in our climate systems • GLOBAL WARMING!!!

48. How Does it Affect Us? Weather – day-to-day conditions in the atmosphere Weather affects us in many ways How are the following affected by weather???