ENV100Y5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Phosphorus Cycle, Ecosystem Ecology, Landscape Ecology

• School: UTM
• Department: Environment
• Course: ENV100Y5
• Professor: Monika Havelka

Document Summary

Earth"s systems include cycles that shape the landscapes around us & guide the flow of key chemical elements & compounds that support life & regulate climate. Cycles: flows of elements, compounds, and energy from reservoir to reservoir through the earth"s system. A system is a network of relationships among parts, elements, or components that interact w/ & influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter, or info. Systems receive inputs of energy, matter or info, process these inputs & produce outputs. Open systems: systems that receive inputs of both energy & matter & produce outputs of both. Closed systems: systems that receive inputs of both energy & matter & produce outputs of energy but not matter. Matter cycles among the various parts of the system but doesn"t leave or enter the system. Energy inputs to earth"s env systems include: solar radiation, heat released by geo-thermal activity, organismal metabolism & human activities such as fossil fuel combustion.