System Earth
Chapter 2 - Society
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Welcome to the System Earth page
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Not only do the Earth systems overlap, they are also interconnected; what affects one can affect another.
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Core ideas
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Earth system definition
The term “Earth system" refers to Earth´s interacting physical, chemical, and biological processes. The system consists of the land, oceans, atmosphere and poles. It includes the planet's natural cycles — the carbon, water, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and other cycles — and deep Earth processes. Life too is an integral part of the Earth system. Life affects the carbon, nitrogen, water, oxygen and many other cycles and processes.
The Earth system now includes human society, Our social and economic systems are now embedded within the Earth system. In many cases, the human systems are now the main drivers of change in the Earth system.
| Content source |
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| International Geosphere-Biosphere Program |
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Dive deeper
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| Gobal Tipping Points |
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| Harmful tipping points in the natural world threaten humanity by disrupting life support systems and societal stability. The effects of tipping points will be transmitted and amplified throughout our globalised world. To mitigate these risks, we should focus on positive tipping points—opportunities where beneficial changes become self-sustaining. History shows rapid societal shifts are possible. |
| https://global-tipping-points.org/ |
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The water cycle (the hydrological cycle)
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| Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) |
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| The world faces a growing water disaster. For the first time in human history, the hydrological cycle is out of balance, undermining an equitable and sustainable future for all. |
| https://watercommission.org/ |
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Do you want to know more?
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| Earth as a System |
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| While Earth is also nested within much larger systems, like our Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy, Earth is also made up of five major parts or subsystems: the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, and Geosphere. |
| https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/basic-page/about-earth-system-background-information |
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| Earth's System |
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| Not only do the Earth systems overlap, they are also interconnected; what affects one can affect another. |
| https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/earths-systems/ |
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| Two major ecological shifts shaped 60 million years of ungulate faunal evolution - Fernando Blanco - Nature Communications - 2025 |
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| The fossil record provides direct evidence for the behavior of biological systems over millions of years, offering a vital source for studying how ecosystems evolved and responded to major environmental changes |
| https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59974-x |
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