21
individually capable of accommodating to their
environment. This ability is achieved via a process of learning. Adaptive system elements also
mean that they always change the environment
(within the system) for others thus the entire system is in a continuous change.
Such systems include, for example, the human
society in which members of the society
(individuals, companies = system elements) are
capable of deliberate accommodation, moreover
of the instinctive alteration of the natural environment (e.g. termite castles).
The Earth is a multiple complex system in
which deterministic, stochastic and chaotic systems operate combined with each other. For
example, the already mentioned weather-climate
system has components that are deterministic in
behaviour. The global average of the warming
effect of greenhouse gases can be calculated (in
the case of known initial conditions) rather accurately. The effects of the axial tilt and the circulation of the Earth around the Sun on the climate
system seems to be deterministic, however, it has
to be assessed stochastic since although seasons
follow each other regularly they show significant
differences between years and typical seasonal
conditions are obtained only as averages of longer time periods. The movements of the atmosphere, the most important factor in the climate
system and the spatial alteration of the energy
transported by it are chaotic. After all the entire
weather/climate system is considered chaotic
since many random effects also influence its
operation.
This extremely complex character of system
behaviour is called combined operation. Studying
systems, a major problem is imposed by the fact
that social laws are different from the laws of
nature but nature and the society are connected
and scientists have to expose a series of interactions (Liu et al. 2007).
Finally, absolutely “purely” operating systems
(showing solely the characteristics of one system
type) hardly occur and mostly among artificial
systems in which humans carefully exclude disturbing factors.
2.3
Classification
of Environmental Systems
and Their Most Important
Characteristics
The global system of Earth is composed of
numerous subsystems and these show a certain
hierarchy. The authors treat the society and
human creations as part of the global system even
though the thinking of humans and the operation
of the society make social systems special.
Environmental systems are composed of biotic
and abiotic natural elements and also of elements
created and operated by the society. Environmental
system is a wider term than ecological system:
ecosystems represent one type of environmental
systems.
In the following environmental systems are
classified according to the origin (natural or artificial), material and development (abiotic, biotic,
social) of the decisive system elements (Fig. 2.5).
Systems classified into the major classes in
Fig. 2.5 are only examples through which the
conditions of classification are explained.
Environmental systems can be classified into
three major classes:
1. Physical environmental systems dominated by
movements and processes of the abiotic material of Earth (air, water, rocks);
2. Ecological systems ecosystems in the operation of which the life activities and relation
network of living beings are decisive;
3. Anthropogenic systems the operation of which
is determined by the human mind and work.
In the case of physical environmental systems
material of the Earth with great weight and different state are dominant: air, water, rocks.
Systems classified here are in close connection
with each other. When climate systems are studied atmospheric conditions are considered primary (air temperature, air pressure, horizontal air
movement = wind, turbulence, air moisture, etc.)
but the conditions of the surface (colour, specific
heat, relief conditions, etc.) cannot be ignored
2.3 Classification of Environmental Systems and Their Most Important Characteristics
individually capable of accommodating to their
environment. This ability is achieved via a process of learning. Adaptive system elements also
mean that they always change the environment
(within the system) for others thus the entire system is in a continuous change.
Such systems include, for example, the human
society in which members of the society
(individuals, companies = system elements) are
capable of deliberate accommodation, moreover
of the instinctive alteration of the natural environment (e.g. termite castles).
The Earth is a multiple complex system in
which deterministic, stochastic and chaotic systems operate combined with each other. For
example, the already mentioned weather-climate
system has components that are deterministic in
behaviour. The global average of the warming
effect of greenhouse gases can be calculated (in
the case of known initial conditions) rather accurately. The effects of the axial tilt and the circulation of the Earth around the Sun on the climate
system seems to be deterministic, however, it has
to be assessed stochastic since although seasons
follow each other regularly they show significant
differences between years and typical seasonal
conditions are obtained only as averages of longer time periods. The movements of the atmosphere, the most important factor in the climate
system and the spatial alteration of the energy
transported by it are chaotic. After all the entire
weather/climate system is considered chaotic
since many random effects also influence its
operation.
This extremely complex character of system
behaviour is called combined operation. Studying
systems, a major problem is imposed by the fact
that social laws are different from the laws of
nature but nature and the society are connected
and scientists have to expose a series of interactions (Liu et al. 2007).
Finally, absolutely “purely” operating systems
(showing solely the characteristics of one system
type) hardly occur and mostly among artificial
systems in which humans carefully exclude disturbing factors.
2.3
Classification
of Environmental Systems
and Their Most Important
Characteristics
The global system of Earth is composed of
numerous subsystems and these show a certain
hierarchy. The authors treat the society and
human creations as part of the global system even
though the thinking of humans and the operation
of the society make social systems special.
Environmental systems are composed of biotic
and abiotic natural elements and also of elements
created and operated by the society. Environmental
system is a wider term than ecological system:
ecosystems represent one type of environmental
systems.
In the following environmental systems are
classified according to the origin (natural or artificial), material and development (abiotic, biotic,
social) of the decisive system elements (Fig. 2.5).
Systems classified into the major classes in
Fig. 2.5 are only examples through which the
conditions of classification are explained.
Environmental systems can be classified into
three major classes:
1. Physical environmental systems dominated by
movements and processes of the abiotic material of Earth (air, water, rocks);
2. Ecological systems ecosystems in the operation of which the life activities and relation
network of living beings are decisive;
3. Anthropogenic systems the operation of which
is determined by the human mind and work.
In the case of physical environmental systems
material of the Earth with great weight and different state are dominant: air, water, rocks.
Systems classified here are in close connection
with each other. When climate systems are studied atmospheric conditions are considered primary (air temperature, air pressure, horizontal air
movement = wind, turbulence, air moisture, etc.)
but the conditions of the surface (colour, specific
heat, relief conditions, etc.) cannot be ignored
2.3 Classification of Environmental Systems and Their Most Important Characteristics