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Understanding Positive and Negative Feedback Loops in Environmental Systems

Feedback loops are critical in understanding changes within environmental systems. Positive feedback loops lead to increased change in one direction, such as the concept of compound interest, where more leads to more. In contrast, negative feedback loops occur when a change results in a decrease of that change, as seen in predator-prey dynamics or climate responses. Understanding these concepts helps in recognizing how small actions can lead to significant environmental improvements, underscoring the importance of synergistic effects in ecological management.

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Understanding Positive and Negative Feedback Loops in Environmental Systems

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  1. Systemsin the Environment

  2. Positive Feedback Loops • DEFINITION: Situation in which change in a certain direction leads to more change in the same direction. • But what does that mean? • Compound interest – more leads to more

  3. Decreasing albedo (reflectiveness)

  4. Negative Feedback Loops • DEF: One change leads to lessening of that change • Examples in environmental systems: • Predator/prey dynamics • Global warming leads to cooling

  5. “Warming” current stops

  6. Time Delay

  7. Synergy DEFINITION: Mixed response exceeds simple addition 1 + 1 = more than 2 EXAMPLES: Safe limit for individual pesticides

  8. Leverage DEFINITION: Small changes can lead to big improvements EXAMPLE: Reducing pollution - through taxes - through incentives - through education

  9. Sources • http://www.newint.org/features/2009/07/01/arctic-climate/ • http://my.opera.com/nielsol/blog/index.dml/tag/ocean%20currents • http://listsoplenty.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tanning-at-the-beach.bmp • http://www.greenzer.com/blog/2333-epa-testing-pesticides.html • http://isiria.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/beijing-car-pollution.jpg

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