GEOG 101 1st Edition Lecture 2Outline of Last Lecture I. Basic Concepts of Physical GeographyOutline of Current Lecture I. What Physical Geographers doA. Scientific MethodII. Scientific ResearchA. Theoriesi. Scientific Theoriesii. Scientific LawB. DataIII. Earth SystemA. Sub-systemsi. Open/Closed systemsB. System’s Change of RateC.Feedback LoopsCurrent LectureI.Physical GeographersA.Use the scientific method, which is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by observing and doing experiments. 1.Ask a question.2.Have a hypothesis, which is an educated guess for the answer to the question.3.Collect data by carrying out your experiment4.Do the results support or falsify your hypothesis?5.Communicate results.6.Identify a question and start over if your results falsified your hypothesis.II.Scientific Research is a way of producing knowledge about the world. Ideas can be rejected, accepted to become beliefs, or tested with hypotheses, which can be either scientifically disproven ideas or theories. If they are disproven, you start from the beginning again. A.Scientific Theoriesi.Climate Change and Evolution are both examples of scientific theories. They conflict with other beliefs, but it is important to look atThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.them scientifically despite your beliefs. More examples of theories are the Atomic, Germ, Cellular, and Tectonics theories.ii.Scientific Laws are well-tested, important theories that haven’t been proven false yet, such as gravity.B.Data-Based on experimental scientific theories, geographers can develop predictive models of the physical world. -Physical Geography is a historical science, inferring past events based on uniformitarian interpretations of current geographic processes. -Geographers can collect data from the past using:1. Instrumental Record (150-250 years back)2. Historical Record (paintings, writings pictures)3. Proxy DataIII. The Earth System is made of nested sub-systems. A. i. Systems Theoryii. Systems inputs/outputsiii. Open/closed systemsAre changes in the system external or internal?-Exogenous or endogenous energy?1. Open Systems receive inputs and emit outputs. In terms of energy Earth.-Black Box: if we don’t know or ignore how a system works eternally itis called a black box.2. Closed Systems: in terms of matter Earth is a closed system because it exchanges very little matter with space. Closed systems are rare on Earth.B. Systems Change of Rate on a graph or table-Energy and matter move within systems-Flux, flow, and transfer= how they move-Source, sink, stock, reservoir= where they are storedi. No changeii. Linear change1. Constant rate (straight line)2. Variable rate (curved line)iii. Cyclical change (usually shows humidity and temperature)iv. Random and/or chaotic change-Change happens at many scales1. Spatial2. TemporalC. Feedback Loops-Earth system maintains homeostasis or the same conditions/changes through feedback loops. -Feedback is affected by inputs and outputs. -Negative: slows or stops a process of change-Positive: speeds up the