A Guide To Planet Earth

Occidental Arts & Ecology Center

 Earth is whole.

System = a set of connected things

or parts forming a complex whole
 Systems within
Systems within
Systems

Each part of a system can

itself be described as
system.
 System Thinking
What are the parts of the system?

How does the system function as a whole?

How is the system itself part of larger

systems?
 The Whole is Greater than
the Sum of Its Parts.
A system can Hydrogen +
be very Oxygen =
different Water???
from its parts. Huh?
Emergent Properties

Hydrogen +
Oxygen =
Water???
Huh?
What are the parts of
the Earth system?
Energy flows
Matter cycles
Life webs
 Energy Flows

We should all be sun worshippers.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE66PBHJ2v8swd_TIwnLSJEKkFvR2WNSXUR89D4c5N1GC_ixPVCQ
Part of a Larger System
The Goldilocks Planet

http://www.keckobservatory.org/images/made/images/gallery/solar_system/Slides-8_800_600.jpg
Greenhouse effect
 Energy budget

http://www.sciencepartners.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/04-energybudget.jpg
http://www.solcomhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/green-remodeling.jpg
Law of Conservation of Energy
Energy always remains in constant amount. Energy is neither
created nor destroyed.
 Energy from the Sun
While energy
does not
change in
amount,
it changes
forms very
readily.
Matter Cycles

Matter cannot be created or destroyed...

...but it can be moved around.
 Earth is a closed system
in terms of matter
(almost... there is some very small gain/loss from space)

We can divide the system

into four parts:
Atmosphere
Hydroshpere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
The processes in the biosphere can have very large impacts the ”balance” of the cycles
and are very important to sustaining life on Earth... hence the emphasis on bio in
biogeochemical cycles
 Where is matter moving?
Reservoirs = stock, store, supply, pool

Atmosphere

Biosphere
Plants
Soil

Lithosphere
Deep
sediments/r
ocks
Ocean floor

Hydrosphere
Ocean surface
Coastal ocean
Deep ocean
Carbon Cycle
Big Idea:
Carbon atoms
change their Carbon - The BFF Atom

chemical partners,
physical location,
and physical state.
 Photosynthesis
and Respiration
 Life Webs
The Gaia Hypothesis
The earth is more than
just a home,
It is a living system and
we are part of it.
- James Lovelock and
Lyn Margolis
Carry Capacity
Liebig’s Law of the Minimum

What will be the limiting factor?

Can your design change this?
We cannot destroy all life on Earth.
 Avoid interfering with the Earth’s
energy flows.

Energy

Regenerate and maintain balance in

matter cycles.

Matter

Preserve the web of life.

Life