Chp 2 1-7

1) What two problems did Arcata, CA solve with its constructed wetland?

It improved the beauty of the area as well as solved their sewage treatment problem.

did it also save them money?

2) What are systems and how do feedback loops regulate them?

Systems are composed of a variable with pathways moving to new state variables. A feedback loop is where one thing regulates another, this refers to positive feedback or negative feedback.

Not completely: positive feedback is where a stimulus elicits a similar response, self-amplifying. Negative feedback counters the original stimulus. Think of a ship with lots of stuff on deck: if cb is above cm, it is stable, if not, it is unstable. Ask in class, ok?

3) Your body contains a vast number of carbon atoms. How is it possible that some of these carbons may have been part of the body of a prehistoric creature?

Because of the carbon cycle, and the conservation of matter principle.

and?

4) List 6 unique properties of water. Describe briefly how each of these properties makes water essential to life as we know it.

-Polar

-only inorganic liquid to occur under natural conditions in nature.

-cohesive molecules

-expands when it freezes

-high heat of vaporization

-high specific heat

is this why Keck is searching for planets with liquid water?

6) The oceans store a vast amount of heat, but this huge reservoir of energy is of little use to humans. Explain the difference between high quality and low-quality energy.

Energy which is spread out and low in temperature is low-quality energy because it is difficult to harness for use.

High quality energy is energy that is concentrated and high in temperature.

compare a high waterfall with a tidal basin...

7) In the biosphere, matter follows circular pathways. While energy flows in a linear fashion. Explain

Matter is cycled through the environment which is why it follows circular pathways. Energy flows through the environment and much is dissipated therefore there is less useful energy at higher levels.

energy is like a cascading bowling ball.

ok, energy flows downhill, with an associated entropy "tax", while matter recycles intact elementally.