Systems and Models (1.2)
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Notes & Review:Notes: Topics 2.2, 2.3, 1.2, and 1.3JEOPARDY REVIEW (2.2, 2.3, 1.2, 1.3) |
Types of Systems
A system can be living or non-living, large or small. They can be tangible or abstract based on what you are talking about. A system could be a small complex cell, or the workings of your smart phone, or as big as the ocean, or the nature reserve next door.
3 types of systems:
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Transfers and Transformations of Energy
There are many different types of energy: Light, Chemical, Mechanical, Thermal (Heat), Nuclear, Kinetic, Sound, etc. Some of these are more common in living systems than others. Light, Chemical, Thermal, etc.
Transfers: energy moving from one place to another (does NOT change form)
Systems function on transfers and transformations. These can be found in any system: from system models of ecosystems, to the atmosphere, to nutrient cycling, to hydrologic cycles etc. |
System Modeling techniques
All systems contain the following:
Notes: you should be able to draw systems diagrams for the following: To the right is a simplistic version of an ecosystem diagram with transfers and transformation processes distinguished between.
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Models as a tool
Models are simplified versions of reality. They help us to understand how a system may work and predict its response. We use models in the following aspects:
Modeling Ecosystems
- Sustainability Models - help to ensure that we have ways to represent and explain the idea of sustainability (1.4)
- Weather - Tricellular Model (2.4)
- Ecosystems - Food Webs are types of models (2.2)
- Ocean currents - current models help predict changes in heat, nutrients, as well as rising sea level etc (4.1)
- Atmospheric models - help predict things like hurricanes and tornados
- Climate Change - computer models are used to predict large scale changes (7.2)
- Demographic Models - increase understanding of population dynamics (8.1)
Modeling Ecosystems