Notes on page 331-351

There are 2 main types of sampling Spatial sampling Temporal sampling. Spatial sampling The samples that had many possible chance about where they can from. Temporal sampling The samples that are discovered in different period of time. Random sampling The sample that being pick by random set of numbers Systematic sampling The way to pick sample a more faster and easy way, choose by the same time. Stratified Sample Dividing items into groups and sampling random items from each group. Sample Size Selecting appropriate samples. It depends on nature, aims of the investigation, and time available.Mean or average Descriptive statistics There are many types of descriptive statistics:Maximum, minimum and range between them(Maximum-minimum) Mode: a group or class that occurs most often. Median: middle value when numbers are in ascending and descending order. (add up all numbers and divided by the amount of numbers) Three different types of data Nominal data: Objects that have names. Ordinary or ranked data: Place in ascending and descending order. Interval or ratio data to real numbers: Interval data has no true zero except for temperature. Ratio data has a true zero such as rainfall. Sampling error or standard error When the the result actually near the true result or not. Confidence limits The idea based that people assume that date sample had a normal joining/grouping. Clustered Being close and in order together. Bar charts Using multi colors bars to compare something Pie charts a circle chat that is good to dividing sections into separate sections. Standard deviation  A measure of the processing of a set of data from its mean. Dispersion diagrams Imagined a gram upward line with dots and like the temperature monitor. Kite diagram           Lines graph that with points it can be drawn as a kite and many other shape shapes.

Endangered wildlife

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1ofDlxU_XMQSlNLam92SDY2bkU/edit

Systems Thinking

Notes on SYSTEMS AND MODELS

Outline the concepts and characteristics of systems

• Holistically – together or viewed as a whole
• A system consists of different parts and relationships which are interrelated through the transfer of energy and matter
• A holistic approach is to understand the way systems operate.
• Systems consist of:
  • Storage
  • Flows
  • Processes
  • Feedback mechanisms that maintain stability and equilibrium.
• System Diagrams consist of:
• Boxes that show storages
• Arrows that show flows

The systems concept on a range of scales

• An ecosystem is the biological community of organisms and environment they inhabit.
• Local scale is an ecosystems with inputs, outputs, and stores. (Ex: forest)
• Global Scale is the ecosystems in the the world that have similar climatic conditions called biomes. (Ex: tundra, desert, rain forest, etc.)
• Water, soil, rock, atmosphere, and the living component called the biosphere.

Open, closed, and isolated systems

• These 3 types of systems are depending on the flow of energy between the system and its surrounding.
  • Open Systems
  • Matter and energy are exchanging in the system.
  • Organic so it must interact with its surrounding to obtain food and to remove waste
  • Closed Systems
  • Only energy is exchanged
  • Isolated Systems
  • Neither energy not matter is exchanged

Laws of thermodynamics and environmental systems

• Heat can be converted to other forms when there is a temperature difference.
• Thermodynamics are the behavior of energy in systems.
  • First law or law of conservation of energy - Energy can neither created nor destroyed, but it can only changed its forms. Heat is released because of the inability to transfer the energy.
  • Second law states that the end of the process, the available energy is less usable than the available at the beginning of the process.
  • As there is less energy, there is higher entropy
  • Matter can be recycled within the system.

The nature of equilibria

• Open systems are in the state of equilibrium which means that if there is any
  changes in the system, there is no sudden changes.
  • A steady-state equilibrium – There is the stability in inputs and outputs in the system. If there is any change to a stable system results, it will return to the original equilibrium.
  • Static equilibrium – There is no inputs and outputs of energy or matter. So there's no changes in the system.
  • Stable and unstable equilibrium – It's stable if the system returns to the original state after the disturbance. On the other hand, it's unstable if the system doesn't return to its original equilibrium.

Positive and negative feedback

• Systems require feedback mechanisms to return to the original state.
  • Positive feedback (Instability) – An increase in size of the system's outputs can change the state of the system away from its original equilibrium.
  • Negative feedback (Stability) – Reduce the outputs and it maintains the steady-state equilibrium.

Transfers and transformation processes (Both types use energy)

• A transfer is when the movement doesn't involve a change of state/form. → Use less energy and more efficient.
• A transformation is when the movement does involve a change of state/form. → New end product.

Flows and storage

• Basically, flows are inputs and outputs in the forms of energy and matter. It sometimes stores in the form of stocks.

Models and flows of storage

• A model shows the structure of a system.
• Biomass is all the living things in the ecosystem.

Evaluation of models

• The models can be represented by computer models or diagrams or whatever that can represent the real system.
• For example, the complex computer simulations (examine about the climate).
  • The advantages of these models are:
    • Simplify the complex systems.
    • They can change the inputs and they don't need to wait to see the outcomes for real events.
    • They can share the results to public.
  • The disadvantages of those models are:
    • The result might not be accurate.
    • Different people have different interpretations.
    • They can use the same data in many different forms of models.
    • The results depend on the people who use them.
    • A good model can be looked from the data.

Pleasanton Case Study Chart

Should Valley County Set Aside a Nature Preserve? No
	Environmental	Economic	Recreational
Positive Short-Term Consequences	None	Investor can earn from the visitor.	Visitor can come and enjoy the county
Negative Short-Term Consequences	Pollution that can cause by visitor	None	None
Positive Long-Term Consequences	None	Investor can earn much more from the visitor by creating a resort or a mall in the area	Visitor can come and enjoy the county.
Negative Long-Term Consequences	Increase the chance of the extinction of the warblers.	None	None

Unit 7 Reading Notes

Environmental Value System is a certain perspective that shapes the way people observe and judge environmental issues.

- Consist of inputs and outputs, a particular worldview.
- Shapes the way an individual perceive and evaluate environmental     issues.
- Shapes the way groups of people perceive and evaluate               environmental issues.
- Incorporates systems thinking
- Influenced by culture, religion, economic and social/political context

EVS has three groups:

1. Technocentrist – people who believe that technology should be used to help save the environment.

2. Ecocentrist – people who believe that they should save the environmental naturally, without any help of modern items.

3. Anthropocentrists – people who believe in a mix of technocentrism and ecocentrism

Making environmental decision

Our group definition of making environmental decision

-thinking green and making decision that can heal or destroy the environment, the example would be like, to recycle or keep repurchasing the product that can permanently hurt the environment.

-by making people understand the situation of the environment, people can make a decision that can heal the environment

-to help not only yourself but also the environment