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Earth’s ecological support systems - Coggle Diagram
Earth’s ecological support systems
Negative feedback mechanisms
Natural processes
Climate regulation
Hydrological cycle
Population regulation
Human activities
Agricultural systems → soil degradation, reduced water availability, loss of natural pest predators
Positive feedback mechanisms
Natural processes
Climatic conditions on Earth have been dominated by negative feedback mechanisms, producing relatively stable conditions
Human activities
Climate change - increased temperatures may increase features involved in positive feedback mechanisms
Permafrost melting
Ocean acidification
Albedo decline
Methane hydrate releases
Forest and peat fires
Cirrus cloud formation
Soil decomposition rates
Material cycles
Diverse systems
Energy
Tipping points
Natural processes
Natural systems that are regulated by negative feedback mechanisms rarely reach tipping points as responses to changes restores the previous state of equilibrium
Large-scale, unusual events can cause changes that reach tipping points as they overwhelm the ability of negative feedback mechanisms to recreate the equilibrium
e.g. the possible release of methane hydrate at the end of the Permian era → climate change → mass extinction
Human activities
Climate change
Increase in the rate of natural processes may become self-sustaining due to human activities
Forest fires
Methane hydrate releases
Permafrost melting