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The earth as a system
Author(s) -
Miller James Grier,
Miller Jessie L.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830270402
Subject(s) - living systems , earth system science , earth (classical element) , atmosphere (unit) , planet , living matter , astrobiology , environmental resource management , computer science , ecology , environmental science , geography , mathematics , meteorology , physics , artificial intelligence , biology , mathematical physics , astrophysics
The planet Earth is a mixed living and nonliving system. It is the suprasystem of all supranational systems as well as the total ecological system, with all its living and nonliving components. The Earth is studied in this article in terms of a general theory of all concrete systems, with special attention to the important subset of living systems. The Earth is an open system, interacting with its atmosphere and with matter and energy in space. Its systemwide processes and the processes of its various components, as well as their variables and indicators, are discussed. In the light of known facts about the Earth as a system, consideration is given to future worldwide problems which must be dealt with by human planners and statesmen.