Geosystem is Definition of concept, types, structure

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Geosystem is such a territorial set of elements and components of nature that are directly interconnected. In such a system, the external environment has a direct influence on them. For the geosystem, it is served by neighboring or adjacent similar natural objects with a higher status, which also includes the geographic envelope, outer space, lithosphere and human society.

Levels

Allocate local, regional and planetary geographic systems. The planetary level is presented as a geographical envelope. Brounov said that the latter is the epigeosphere, that is, "the outer shell of the Earth." Physical-geographical zones, countries, provinces, territories, regions, sectors and landscape zones belong to the regional level. Facies, tracts and other small natural-territorial complexes are called local geosystems.

Hierarchy

To beit is easier to determine all the features and properties of geosystems, it is necessary to concretize them and determine to which hierarchy it belongs. Geographers believe that it is necessary to single out the main step - the landscape. Here, the lowest position is occupied by the facies, and the highest by the epigeosphere.

Evolution and dynamics

In the course of historical development, the landscape sphere was formed along with the hierarchy of geosystems. The process of evolution has been going on for billions of years. The results of this development are being studied by geologists and paleogeographers.

All transformations within a geosystem are called its dynamics. The concept of "geosystem" is a fairly broad definition, since it defines virtually all processes that occur on the Earth and beyond. The antiquity of a particular system is judged by the age of one of the relief types. It is determined by the period during which the relationship was as similar as possible. However, some of its components may be a little older. In order to correctly establish the age of a geosystem, it is necessary to get an idea of the evolution of systemic relationships in a particular geological segment.

Age of biogeocenoses

These are all questions of physical geography. They can be solved only by methods of field landscape studies. Scientists argue that the age of biogeocenoses of the same facies can be different. Durability is measured mainly for biogeocenoses and facies. Often the age of the former is determined by how long he held a certain territory. Its antiquity can be easily determined usingexcavations carried out. Thus, the state of the geosystem can also be established.

Landscape dynamics

The landscape sphere is characterized by many dynamic states, but scientists agreed that only two should be singled out:

• Efvifinal.
• Variable.

Indigenous, complex-indigenous and conditionally indigenous systems refer to the equificial components of the geosystem:

• Indigenous. They have established strong internal and external ties. They are the final natural complex.
• Conditionally root and complex root systems. They are similar to the natives, only they have not come to their natural state and have not received balance within themselves, as well as with the environment.
• Complex-radical systems are changed as a result of hypertrophy or hypotrophy. This happens due to excess moisture, or lack of oxygen in peat bogs.

Self-Regulation

Due to the process of self-regulation, the very structure of geosystems is changing. After the stabilization of these components, a period of homeostasis begins, when the system becomes resistant to external factors. In the understanding of many scientists, the self-regulation of a geosystem is to ensure the relative development of all its elements. If the structure is severely disturbed, then self-regulation stops and this shell comes to an end.

Connection Modes

The relationship between the components determines the direction of regulation of geosystems. As a result, there are reverserelationships, which are divided into positive and negative. The former intensify the chain reaction, which causes the transformation of the system, while the negative ones contribute to the restoration of balance, due to which the self-regulation of the natural objects themselves resumes on a regional scale. The very process of external and internal influence lasts a long period of time.

The purpose of creation and the structure of the geosystem

The goal of a geosystem is to achieve a stable state, regardless of the level of the hierarchy. They must be open to receive a direct connection with the environment. Here matter and energy are continuously transformed. Cycles regularly occur inside, which is due to the transformation and metabolism.

The most important property is biomass production.

The ability of soil formation allows soil to form as a result of the interaction of living organisms and their remains with the outer layers of the lithosphere. Soils are considered a product of the functioning of landscapes.

Distinguish between vertical and horizontal structures of geosystems.

The first one is responsible for the relative positions of the components, and the second one is responsible for ordering geosystems of the lowest rank.

A solid foundation is the most durable component of the landscape, but if it suddenly collapses, then it can no longer be restored. For a landscape to be sustainable, it must be stable.

Each type of landscape has its own stability:

• Tundra type - underdeveloped soils due to lack of heat too slowlyrecover and are unstable to technogenic loads.
• Taiga type - thanks to better heat supply, it is a little more stable than the previous landscape. But waterlogging reduces the strength of this system.
• The steppe zone is highly stable, while the forest-steppe zone is less stable. Despite the ideal ratio of heat and moisture, the fundamental nature of this system is reduced due to strong anthropogenic activity.
• Desert landscapes have very low stability due to excess heat and lack of moisture. The soils here are very poor and very vulnerable. Regular irrigation can increase their resilience.

Management

Scientists identify several forms of geosystem management:

• Direct - directly on the territory of the simplest systems. It could be irrigation.
• Multi-stage - subsystems help complex and advanced systems.
• Operational management.
• Comprehensive management.
• Description of the region.
• The element of constructive regionalism helps to solve problems of organization such as choosing a space or improving it.

Terminology

• The imaginary nature of geosystems is the possibility of their existence in different states.
• Functionality is a set of permanent and variable processes.
• Inertness - the ability to maintain one's state unchanged for a certain period of time.
• Renewability - the ability to return to the initial stage after the transformation.
• The potential of a geosystem is an indicator of the potential fulfillment by a landscape of socio-economic functions that can satisfy the various needs of society.

Geotechnical systems

Among this type of systems, anthropogenic and natural geosystems, as well as geotechnical systems are distinguished:

• Water management - absolutely all the water arteries that people use in the course of their activities. This includes not only seas, lakes, rivers and oceans, but also artesian wells and other objects.
• Agricultural - here natural and anthropogenic-technical subsystems are considered equivalent to each other.
• Forestry - are divided into economic and non-economic. They, in turn, are conditionally natural, secondary and silvicultural.
• Industrial - a set of technical industrial facilities that are located in a certain area, the natural complexes of which take an active part in their functioning.
• Transport geotechnical systems - belong to the category of objects that pollute natural geosystems, and also harm the environment.

These are the main types of geosystems.