Earths System

CVE 3205
Engineering Geology
Wong Jee Khai

The System Concept

A system can be any size group of
interacting parts that form a complex
whole.
The simplest kind to understand is an
isolated system.
the boundary completely prevents the
exchange of either matter or energy.

The System Concept

The nearest thing to an isolated system in
the real world is a closed system:
exchanges energy with its surroundings, but
not matter.

An open system can exchange both

energy and matter across its boundary.

The System Concept

There are 2 types of system:
Closed system
Open system (mostly in natural systems)

Some of the earth subsystems:

Hydrologic system
Rock cycle
Tectonic system

Earths Spheres
Earth consist of four major spheres:
Geosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere

Three Most Important Cycles

Hydrologic cycle
Water in Earths hydrosphere.

Rock cycle
Rock is formed, modified, decomposed and reformed
by the internal and external processes of Earth.

Tectonic cycle
Movements of plates of lithosphere, and the internal
processes of Earths deep interior that drive plate
motions.

Other Cycles
The other cycles include the
biogeochemical cycles
Carbon.
Oxygen.
Nitrogen.

Hydrologic Cycle
Powered by heat from the sun.
Encompasses the movement of water in
the atmosphere, in the hydrosphere, on
the Earths surface, and in the Earths
crust.