Systems, feedback loops, and stocks
What is a positive feedback loop?
something that continuously grows and will continue to grow if left unchecked.
What is a food chain?
A way in which energy is transferred from one organism to another via consumption
What are the two energy markets?
Day ahead and Real time
The idea that the world's temperatures are changing due to various factors such as anthropogenic or natural.
Define species richness and evenness
Richness - # of different species in an ecosystem
Evenness - # of individuals in each species
An ecologist is trying to take stock of the amount of dogs in a specific area. They realize that there are 100 dogs in this area and that every year 5 dogs get adopted by humans. In this case, what is our stock and what is our flow?
stock = 100
Flow = -5
What is a keystone species
A species that is integral to an ecosystem.
What is a sector?
A general term for a specific economic field that contributes to the country's overall GDP in one way shape or form.
What causes the seasons of the earth?
The degrees at which the earth is getting solar radiation from the sun.
What are the three stages of ecological succession
pioneer species, intermediate species, climax community
Spending money makes you feel good, then you're broke, since you're broke you get a job. After you get a job you get money which you then spend. What type of feed back loop is this an example of?
Negative
What is the percentage of energy that is transferred from one level of a food chain to the next via consumption?
10%
How do you make electrical energy?
Spin a wheel
What degree of latitude do we expect to see most rainforests on the globe?
0 Degrees
What are the properties of a K selected species?
- Long life spans
- Small brood sizes
What are the three parts of a system?
Elements, Interconnections, and function/purpose
If a producer produces 1000 J of energy, how much energy can we expect the Secondary consumer to obtain?
10 J
Describe how a coal power plant creates electrical energy.
Coal boils water which makes steam, that steam spins a turbine which creates energy.
What is the Coriolis effect?
The phenomenon that happens when an object is going straight on a spinning body. The object seems to curve when it is airborne.
Define Resilience and Resistance
Resilience - How much a community can withstand a disturbance
Resistance - How easily that community can recover from a disturbance
Negative, as it brings balance back into an ecosystem.
Create a food chain with the following organisms (You don't have to use them all).
Grass
Rabbits
Caterpillars
Eagles
Momo
Spiders
Use your imagination
Determine if all the following energy types are renewable and carbon zero:
Fossil fuels
Solar
Hydro electric
Nuclear
Fossil fuels - not renewable and not carbon zero
Solar- Renewable and Carbon Zero
Hydro electric - Renewable and carbon zero
Nuclear - Not renewable but carbon zero
What are Hadley Cells?
How environmental scientists characterize the wind currents from 0 degrees latitude to 30 degrees latitude (north and south)
Liam has 300 dogs in his backyard. The carrying capacity of the yard for dogs is 10. What do we expect to happen?
The dog population will die out until they reach the carrying capacity or go below it.