Environmental Systems and Energy

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System

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Network of interdependent components and processes with materials and energy flow

Front

Ecosystem

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Complex assemblage of animals, plants, and environment with material and energy flow

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Simple system components

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State variables and flows

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State variables

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Store resources like energy, matter, or water

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Flows

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Pathways for resource movement between state variables

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Open systems

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Receive inputs and produce outputs

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Closed systems

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No exchange of energy or matter with surroundings

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Throughput

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Energy and matter flow into, through, and out of a system

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System cycles

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Components feed back to influence size or rate of themselves

Front

Positive feedback loop

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Increases a process or component