Natural and Human Systems
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What happens when systems interact?
Determine the significance of interactions between
natural systems and human systems
TERMS
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System
Ecosystem
Human System
Natural System
Systems Approach
Dynamic systems
Synergy
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
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Biosphere
Cryosphere
Plate tectonics
Energy
Photons
Photosynthesis
Ultraviolet radiation
Economics
Infrastructure
Journey into the World of Systems
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A complex set of dynamic systems makes up our
world.
People depend on natural systems for survival
Natural systems influence people’s activities
Human activities have an impact on natural systems
Each region in Canada has a unique combination
of natural and human systems.
legal
solar
Journey into the World of Systems
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What are Systems ?
A
system is made up of different parts that connect to
form a whole.
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Why is it important to know about systems and how
they operate?
 The
interaction of systems on earth shapes the
environment in which we live.
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THEY CAN BE BROKEN INTO 2 CATEGORIES:
 NATURAL
SYSTYEMS
 HUMAN SYSTEMS
Natural System
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Pg 48
Systems that occur in nature
 Circulation
of water in the ocean
 Weather and climate
 Water drainage
 Energy cycles
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These systems work together to form the
ECOSYSTEMS
 Ecosystem
is a community of plants and animals that
interact with one another and with their physical
environment (land, climate, soil, water and nutrients).
Human System
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System that are created by humans include:
Human settlements
 Transportation routes
 Communication systems
 Economics
 Infrastructure
 Energy
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The Systems Approach
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Used by geographers to study both natural and
human systems
Used to helps us make better decisions as we work
to create safer and healthier environments.
Can help us to protect natural systems and to use
resources so they last into the future.
Complex Web of Systems
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A complex set of Dynamic systems make up our
world.
 Dynamic---continually
changing.
 May
take millions of years for the change(oil formation)
 May only take a few minutes for the change (car burning
gas)
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In what ways can a change in one natural system
influence that system? Influence another natural
system?
Greater than the Sum of its Parts
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Synergy
 The
whole system is greater than the sum of it parts
 WATER
(2 parts hydrogen/1 part oxygen
 CAR (engine, tires, brakes)
Characteristics of Natural Systems
The World of Systems
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Natural Systems:
These are systems that occur in nature, and
together they form the ecosystems that make up
our natural environment.
- Circulation of Water in our ocean
- Weather and Climate Systems
- Energy Cycles
- Food Chain
Food
Chain
Earth’s Natural Systems
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Earth is made up of 4 spheres that are
interconnected:
 Atmosphere
 Lithosphere
 Hydrosphere
 Biosphere
Synergy: the whole system is greater than the sum of its part
Check out figure 2.3 , 2.4 and 2.5 on pages 50 and 51 of your book.
Use the four column chart.
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Read through pages 51-53 in your book.
Record notes in each column as you read
through.
Don’t forget the sidebar notes!
Create a web diagram that illustrates the connection
between elements within a natural system.
You are the center of this system . Add three relevant elements for each
category that impact your everyday life. Be prepared to explain your choices.
Air
Sun
You
Water
Soil
Biosphere
Bear
Fish
Tree
Spider
MountainL
ava
Rock
Soil
Hydrosphere
Earth’s
Natural
Systems
Lithosphere
Lake,
Ocean,
Pond,
River
Clouds
Smog
Aurora
borealis
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
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is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that
is retained by Earth's gravity.
It protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet
solar radiation, warming the surface through heat
retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing
temperature extremes between day and night.
 Limb view, of the Earth's atmosphere. Colours roughly
denote the layers of the atmosphere.
Atmosphere
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Consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen but also
traces of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide, and ozone.
 Blue light is scattered more than other wavelengths by the gases
in the atmosphere, giving the Earth a blue halo when seen from
space
Lithosphere
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contains :
 all
of the cold, hard solid land of the planet's crust
(surface),
 the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and the liquid
land near the center of the planet.
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Lithosphere
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*The surface of the lithosphere is very uneven (see image
below).
 There
are high mountain ranges like the Rockies and
Andes (shown in red),
 huge plains or flat areas like those in Texas, Iowa, and
Brazil (shown in green),
 and deep valleys along the ocean floor (shown in blue).
CRUSTAL PLATES: pieces of the lithosphere
PLATE TECTONICS: slow movement of theses plates on
the underlying mantle.
This movement causes mountain-building, volcanoes and
earthquakes.
More on
this later!
Hydrosphere
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contains all the solid, liquid, and gaseous water of
the planet.
 Fresh
 Salty
(Ninety-seven percent)
 Frozen
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Covers 70% of the Earth’s surface
Hydrosphere
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Some scientists place frozen water--glaciers,
icecaps, and icebergs--in its own sphere called the
"cryosphere”.
The geography of life: Natural Systems
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Without nature’s system.....no life on Earth (pg 54-56)
 The
atmosphere regulates temperature on Earth
 This makes water available to living things in liquid
form
 Discuss
the Hydrologic Cycle...do activity
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Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all
known forms of life.
It appears colorless to the naked eye in small
quantities, though it is actually slightly blue in color.
It covers 70% of Earth's surface.
Water:
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Most of us take water for granted.
 Flush
toilets, run sinks, water yards. Etc
 Dripping faucets waste 10 % of water piped into our
homes.
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Many drier areas of the world treat water as if it is
gold.
Water:
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We need water to live
 2/3
of our body is water
 Crops and livestock require water
 Average
Canadian uses 300 liters of water per day
 Add production/manufacturing it is 4000 liters
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Average daily residential water use per capita (litres
per person):
United States - 425L
Canada - 326L
Italy - 250L
Sweden - 200L
France - 150L
Israel - 135L
Water
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Pollution
3 main types of water pollution:
 Biological
Pollution
 Physical Pollution
 Chemical Pollution
Biological Pollution
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Bacteria and algae that enter lakes and rivers.
Sewage from cities and towns are the largest
source.
Solved by Reducing sewage from entering water
supplies (sewage treatment plants)
Physical Pollution
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Least harmful but most obvious.
Floating garbage, paper, tin cans etc.
These are easily seen and clean-up and prevention
is relative simple.
Chemical Pollution
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Most Dangerous
Dumping of poisonous chemicals into rivers and
lakes
Chemical Pollution
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Clean-Up there are 2 problems
 Not
able to completely stop chemicals from reaching
water supplies
 Do not have the technology to clean-up chemicals once
they are in the water.
Biosphere
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contains all the planet's living things.
 This
sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants,
and animals of Earth.
 Within the biosphere, living things form ecological
communities based on the physical surroundings of an
area.
 These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts,
grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that
exist within the biosphere.
Food
Chain
Decay Cycle
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One animals waste is another Animal’s dinner.
 Food
Web
 Decomposers
 Producers
 Consumers
The Decay Cycle
There is no waste in
natural systems.
Creatures such as
fungi, insects and
bacteria act as
decomposers to
eat and recycle
nature’s waste
materials.
Energy
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The fuel of LIFE
Most of the Earth's energy comes from the Sun.
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The rest of it comes from deep inside the Earth
 Activity
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pg 142 quide next slide
Go to http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov;
ACTIVITY
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You will be given an envelope full of pictures
Title your 4 sheets of paper: Atmosphere, Lithosphere,
Hydrosphere and Biosphere
Glue the pictures on the appropriate sheets
Use the sheets to make a “Master Poster” that you will title
as “Natural Systems of Earth: The Spheres”
Make it neat and tidy and add some personal creativity.
Group done Correctly first gets 3 bonus points
The best poster gets 7 bonus points (5 for second, 4 for
third, and so on)
Characteristics of Natural Systems
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They are driven by energy from the sun
Support all living things, including humans
Are connected to one another in a complex network of
relationships
Decompose and recycle all wastes
Can be affected by natural events and human influences
Are not well understood by humans
Operate on very long timelines, from hundreds to millions of
years
Operate in all four of the earth’s spheres
Display synergy
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Do questions 1-3 on pg 57
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Given a natural disaster such as
 Earthquake,

hurricane, flood or drought)
Explain the immediate and long term consequences
it would have on two nature systems in your area.
Human Systems (pg 58)
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People depend on natural systems for survival
Human activities have an impact on natural systems
Natural systems influence people’s activities
The World of Systems
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Human Systems:
These are systems that are created by people to fill
individual and collective needs and wants.
Human Systems
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Create a list of personal needs and wants.
 Explain
how you meet those needs and wants.
 Classify your needs and wants into the appropriate
human system.
Human System
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System that are created by humans include:
Human settlements
 Transportation routes
 Communication systems
 Economics
 Infrastructure
 Energy
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Are
interconnected
in a
complicated
network of
relationships
Are not well
understood by
humans
Operate on
shorter timelines
than natural
systems
Human Systems
Can be affected by
outside events and
influences
Depend on
natural systems
May recycle
wastes but usually
end up with some
(often a lot)
harmful waste
Display synergy (when 2
or more parts work
together to produce an
effect greater than the
sum of its parts)
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Imagine you and your classmates have been
stranded on a deserted island.
What would be the three most important human
systems you would need to establish in order to survive?
 Why?
 Once completed, rank the human system in order of
importance and justify your reasoning.
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Humans use technology to harvest natural
resources and create lifestyles based on
significantly altered environments.
We clear forests
to build on,
create chemicals
to control pests,
build roads and
bridges to
connect places,
build dams to
create
hydroelectric
power and
many other
things to shape
and transform
the Earth’s
surface.
Transportation & Communication
Systems
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Transportation Systems
 Interconnecting
network of roads, trains, air travel,
shipping and cycling routes.
 Shopping for clothes, music, sports equipment etc. is
all part of our ECONOMIC System as well as our
transportation system.
Transportation Systems are interconnecting
networks, such as roads and rail lines, and the bus,
cycling, airline etc. routes
that move and link
people and goods.
Gas stations, roads, ferries etc.
all support this system.
Page 374 of your
book
has a clear copy of
this map
Moving people and goods across the nation is an important part
of the economy. Canada’s diverse geography means products that
are available in one region may not be in another. Our
transportation system has played an important role in the
development of our country.
*Read pages 374-79.
The Trans-Canada highway is
the world’s largest national
highway with 7821 kms of
paved highway.
Transportation & Communication
Systems
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Communication Systems
is a fundamental function of every society. Language,
drawing, and writing have always enabled mankind to
evolve and to pass on knowledge and values.
 Interconnecting network of:

Phone
 Television
 Radio
 Cell phones
 Internet web pages
 News papers
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Communication Systems
Advances in technology have greatly altered how
and how quickly we communicate.
Read through
pages 370373
Take some time to jot down the ‘events’ of
your day so far.
Five minutes of:
- got up when the alarm clock went off
- took a shower
- ate breakfast Dad cooked
- loaded the dishwasher
And so on
Using the chart like the one below list three clear examples
from your (typical) day that fit each column. If stuck, use
examples from family, friends or teachers.
EXAMPLE “I texted my friend to see if he was taking the car and
could pick me up” would fit under communication.
transportation communication
I texted my
friend to see if
he was taking
the car and
could pick me up
economic
infrastructure
energy
When filled, go back and make at least one connection for
every example. Explain.
EXAMPLE: The above example is also economic because
the phone had to be purchased and bills must be paid.
OR it could connect to energy because the phone had to
be charged
transportation communication
I texted my
friend to see if
he was taking
the car and
could pick me
up
economic
the phone has
to be paid for
and had to be
purchased.
infrastructure
energy
the phone had
to be charged
Infrastructure: how it all works PG.60
Infrastructure: How it all works
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The basic facilities, services, and installations
needed for the functioning of a community or
society
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such as transportation and communications systems,
water and power lines, and public institutions including
schools, post offices, and prisons
Infrastructure: How it all works
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Water crisis
 Read
the media watch article on p. 62 of your text and
then complete question 1, 2, and 3 in your text on p.
63.
An Example of Future Transportation
Systems
Watch the following video and answer the following
questions
 Draw a Venn Diagram comparing possible future
transportation systems with those we have today.
A Possible Future of Urban Transportation
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Natural & Human Systems Interact
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Humans depend on nature for needs (survival)
Natural systems influence people’s activities
Human activities have an impact on natural systems
Humans cannot help but change the natural
environment as they us resources (pg 64)
Natural & Human Systems Interact
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Negative and positive consequences of human
actions:
 Changing
the landscape (Clear cutting Forest)
 Health and sustainability of the environment (pollution)
 Climate change
 Global warming
 Read
articles pg 65/66 and do question pg 67( #1)
 Worksheet for question #2
Systems Thinking
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Geographers investigate the problems that emerge
from the way natural and human systems interact
Systems thinking can help us to protect natural
systems and to use natural resources so that they
last into the future ( make them sustainable)
 Sustainable
 To
conserve natural resources so that they survive for the
future generations.
 Case study pg 70 do worksheet for pg 75