Earths System

CVE 3205 Engineering Geology Wong Jee Khai

The System Concept

A system can be any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. The simplest kind to understand is an isolated system.
the boundary completely prevents the exchange of either matter or energy.

The System Concept

The nearest thing to an isolated system in the real world is a closed system:
exchanges energy with its surroundings, but not matter.

An open system can exchange both energy and matter across its boundary.

The System Concept

There are 2 types of system:
Closed system Open system (mostly in natural systems)

Some of the earth subsystems:

Hydrologic system Rock cycle Tectonic system

Earths Spheres
Earth consist of four major spheres: Geosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere

Three Most Important Cycles

Hydrologic cycle
Water in Earths hydrosphere.

Rock cycle
Rock is formed, modified, decomposed and reformed by the internal and external processes of Earth.

Tectonic cycle
Movements of plates of lithosphere, and the internal processes of Earths deep interior that drive plate motions.

Other Cycles
The other cycles include the biogeochemical cycles
Carbon. Oxygen. Nitrogen.

Hydrologic Cycle
Powered by heat from the sun. Encompasses the movement of water in the atmosphere, in the hydrosphere, on the Earths surface, and in the Earths crust.