1. Kimi Perez, David Rojo, Connor Valmore (Table 2)
Subsystems
Kimi Perez, David Rojo, Connor Valmore (Table 2)
2/19/14
Period 2

2. What characteristics make up the subsystems?

3. Processes operating in Earth system take place on a spatial scales varying from fractions of millimeters to thousands of kilometers. And a time scale ranging from milliseconds to billions of years.

4. Earth’s systems are characterized by numerous overlapping cycles in which matter is recycled over and over again

5. The earth systems are powered by two major energy sources:
The sun
The planet’s internal heat

6. People are part of Earth’s systems and they impact and are impacted by its processes and materials

7. Subsystems
The rocky, and “hard parts” of the Earth are part of the Geoshpere.
All of Earth’s water is a part of the Hydrosphere.
All living things on earth are a part of the Biosphere.
Every gas surrounding the planet is part of the Atmosphere.
The universe surrounding the planet is called the Cosmosphere.

8. Subsystems video

9. Are the subsystems essential to the stability of earth?

10. Subsystems
Subsystems are interconnected by processes and cycles, which, over time, intermittently store, transform/transfer matter and energy throughout the whole Earth system

11. Systems can range in complexity, and Earth’s subsystems are all dynamic, for example-
Erosion, which is a form of weathering, wears away the earth by the action of water, wind, glaciers, waves, etc.
Key to understanding the complexity of the Earth system is that manipulation in one part of a subsystem can cause effects in other parts of that subsystem and/or the other subsystems

12. Scientists increasingly view Earth as a dynamic system – a combination of interrelated, interdependent or interacting parts forming a collective whole or entity
On a macro level, the Earth system maintains its existence and functions as a whole through the interactions of its parts, called components

13. Earth science research focuses on solving the many problems posed by increasing human populations, decreasing natural resources, and inevitable natural hazards.

14. Together, Earth scientists can better understand the highly involved and interrelated systems of earth and find better answers to the difficult questions posed by many natural phenomena.

15. Earth Spheres
&feature=youtube_gdata_player

16. Why do we pollute the Earth like we do?

17. First off, what are we talking about?
Pollution – here are some facts on it
U.S. Department of Defense is the world’s largest polluter (producing more than 5 leading U.S. chemical companies combined)
Approximately 1/3 of male fish in British rivers are in the process of changing sex due to pollution. Hormones in human sewage, including those produced by the female contraceptive pill, are thought to be the main cause
Polluted coastal water costs the global economy $12.8 billion a year in death & disease

18. Is it really that big of a deal?
Well, there’s GLOBAL WARMING But the effects of it are so far away that it really is of no immediate concern
There are the numerous children born with deficiencies & deformities that seem to rise every year in badly polluted areas
There’s also the billions we spend every year picking up trash & cleaning up waste spills that could’ve been prevented if we managed them better

19. What are we doing about it?
There are laws in place, such as the Clean Water Act, which was put in place in 1977 & has many amendments since it was to better our standards of what is acceptable.
But unfortunately, not all of these laws are enforced, much less kept up to date & even if they are, there are many companies that have found ways around following them . . .

20. Then why is our mom still so dirty?
We have no place to put it! The reactors in nuclear power plants use fuel in the form of ceramic uranium dioxide pellets that are sealed within metal rods. These rods get stored in ‘waste beds’ until finding a suitable place to put it But because they are so harmful, there isn’t. So it just gets moved into places that have less harsh waste policies than we do, which is called environmental dumping
We also trade pollution, which lets companies that go over emission limits, which varies from chemical to chemical, pay their way out of meeting that standard by ‘buying’ the right to pollute from companies who have their emissions below the limit

21. What are some areas affected by this?
It varies depending on the policies of that country but a few that are especially bad are
Many regions of Africa
Russia
China
Indonesia
Azerbaijan
The very arctic parts of Canada
And . . .

22. India