ENV100Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Magma Chamber, Sea Spray, Lake Ontario

• School: UTM
• Department: Environment
• Course: ENV100Y5
• Professor: Stephen Scharper

Document Summary

System: a portion of the universe that can be separated from the rest for the purpose of studying changes that occur within it under changing conditions. Beluga is vulnerable and an indicator for the great lakes, st. lawrence ecosystem. Pollutants come downstream from great lakes, agrochemicals (hypoxia and eutrophication) and organochlorides (pcbs) bio magnification of contaminants requires systems-based approach. Systems approach to solve environmental problems, have to consider all systems complex systems network. Closed system: energy can be exchanged across the boundaries but matter cannot. Open system: both matter and energy can be exchanged across boundary. The earth it approximates a closed system it has consequences: resources are finite and limited, no away to throw things to, what goes around comes around. Dynamic equilibrium: systems are constantly changing interacting and balancing. Homeostasis: many systems tend to maintain stable internal conditions (= resistance) Emergent properties: system characteristics not evident in individual components on their own.