EG4310EG4310Sustainability & Global SystemsSustainability & Global Systems

Lecture 1Lecture 1Global SystemsGlobal Systems

Dr Mark CresswellDr Mark Cresswell(with some material from Dr David Lambrick)(with some material from Dr David Lambrick)

Winter 2009Winter 2009

TopicsTopics IntroductionIntroduction Assignment 1Assignment 1

Global systemsGlobal systems The importance of timeThe importance of time

Next week’s research seminarNext week’s research seminar

IntroductionIntroduction Why study this unit?Why study this unit?

• GlobalGlobal• SystemsSystems• SustainabilitySustainability

ExpertiseExpertise• Staff in EGS and CATEStaff in EGS and CATE

Focus of materialFocus of material• Climate and climate modellingClimate and climate modelling• AviationAviation

Assignment 1 – Set Today!Assignment 1 – Set Today!

Global SystemsGlobal Systems Earth System Earth System (biogeochemical system)(biogeochemical system) Interacting physical, chemical and Interacting physical, chemical and

biological cycles and fluxesbiological cycles and fluxes• Materially closed systemMaterially closed system• Dominant energy source – SunDominant energy source – Sun• Interactions are complex and dynamic Interactions are complex and dynamic

with feedback and forcing mechanismswith feedback and forcing mechanisms• Biology (and Humans) integral partBiology (and Humans) integral part• Time-scales vary and can be largeTime-scales vary and can be large

Global SystemsGlobal Systems

Global SystemsGlobal Systems

Global SystemsGlobal Systems Complex adaptive systemsComplex adaptive systems

• Ecosystems & biosphere are adaptiveEcosystems & biosphere are adaptive• Macroscopic features such as robustness Macroscopic features such as robustness

emerge largely from processes at lower emerge largely from processes at lower scales of organizationscales of organization

• Must try to relate processes and patterns Must try to relate processes and patterns occurring at various spatial and temporal occurring at various spatial and temporal scales and inherent organizational scales and inherent organizational complexitycomplexity

Global SystemsGlobal Systems The The climate systemclimate system is part of the is part of the

earth systemearth system

Climate = the sum of all components Climate = the sum of all components of weather such as rainfall, of weather such as rainfall, temperature, cloud cover etc temperature, cloud cover etc averaged over long time periods (30 averaged over long time periods (30 years, 60 years or even centuries)years, 60 years or even centuries)

Global SystemsGlobal Systems Areas of study in global sustainabilityAreas of study in global sustainability

• Time-scales and temporal variabilityTime-scales and temporal variability• Role of biology in a functioning systemRole of biology in a functioning system• Spatial patterns and variability in Spatial patterns and variability in

processes lead to gradients affecting processes lead to gradients affecting oceans and atmosphereoceans and atmosphere

• Connectivity of systems over space and Connectivity of systems over space and time: e.g. ENSO & teleconnectionstime: e.g. ENSO & teleconnections

• Non-linearity (small amplitude forcing Non-linearity (small amplitude forcing equals large change)equals large change)

Global SystemsGlobal Systems Global scale changeGlobal scale change

• Local changes can have global impactsLocal changes can have global impacts• Recent human activity can create Recent human activity can create

profoundly abnormal changeprofoundly abnormal change

• E.g. COE.g. CO22 production in industrial regions production in industrial regions has global atmospheric impactshas global atmospheric impacts

Change requires time…Change requires time…

25 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

150 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

1000 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

12,000 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

450,000 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

5,000,000 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

65,000,000 years

Change requires time…Change requires time…

500,000,000 years

Seminar Next WeekSeminar Next Week Each pair of people prepare a side of A4Each pair of people prepare a side of A4

• 3 sections:3 sections:

• 1) List top 4 global systems in order of 1) List top 4 global systems in order of importanceimportance

• 2) Spider (mindmap) diagram showing how 2) Spider (mindmap) diagram showing how your 4 systems are linkedyour 4 systems are linked

• 3) Find 1 key peer review scientific journal 3) Find 1 key peer review scientific journal article dealing with each system (so 4 papers article dealing with each system (so 4 papers in total)in total)

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