Discussion board

Topic

1:

Equilibrium

in

Natural

Systems

One

example

of

equil

ibrium

in

natural

systems

are

the

processes

within

the

Earth’s

atmosphere

to

re

-

equilibrate

(reach

equilibrium)

when

pressures

and

temperatures

become

unbalanced.

Many

of

these

changes

are

things

that

are

witnessed

every

day

on

a

small

scale

in

the

form

of

weather,

such

as

wind,

rain,

snow,

fog,

etc.

Sometimes,

however,

Earth’s

atmosphere

experiences

very

large

imbalances

which

can

cause

massive

and

very

disruptive

change.

The

extreme

weather

events

of

the

past

decade

are

good

examples

of

extreme

changes

th

at

required

re

-

balancing

(equilibration).

Not

only

did

they

have

environmental

impacts,

but

also

disastrous

consequences

for

the

hundreds

and

thousands

of

people

in

their

wake.

Review

the

Discussion

resources

.

Then,

during

the

week,

discuss

with

your

classmates:

1.

What

kinds

of

natural

imbalances

might

affect

your

region?

What

makes

your

region

particularly

vulnerable

to

these

imbalances?

2.

Provide

a

specific

example

of

a

weather

incident/natural

disaster

that

occurred

in

your

area

in

the

past

and

discuss

how

the

incident

was

handled

by

local

residents

and

town/state

officials.

3.

What

can

people

in

your

area

do

to

prepare

for

a

similar

inciden

t?

Consider

what

can

be

done

prior

to,

during,

and

after

the

disaster

(be

sure

to

include

specific

details

using

information

from

the

CDC

and/or

FEMA).

4.

Compare

your

area

to

that

of

a

classmate.

What

environmental

features

do

you

have

in

common

to

produce

s

imilar

natural

disasters

OR

what

features

vary,

leading

to

completely

different

disasters?

Would

rescue

efforts

differ

as

well?

5.

What

predictions

are

being

made

for

how

climate

change

will

impact

either

the

frequency

or

intensity

of

future

natural

disasters

in

your

area?

(Hint:

refer

to

the

extreme

weather

and

hurricane

resources

provided

above

to

find

information

to

support

your

ideas).

Topic 1: Equilibrium in Natural Systems

One example of equilibrium in natural systems are the processes within the Earth’s

atmosphere to re-equilibrate (reach equilibrium) when pressures and temperatures

become unbalanced. Many of these changes are things that are witnessed every day

on a small scale in the form of weather, such as wind, rain, snow, fog, etc.

Sometimes, however, Earth’s atmosphere experiences very large imbalances which

can cause massive and very disruptive change. The extreme weather events of the

past decade are good examples of extreme changes that required re-balancing

(equilibration). Not only did they have environmental impacts, but also disastrous

consequences for the hundreds and thousands of people in their wake.

Review the Discussion resources.

Then, during the week, discuss with your classmates:

1. What kinds of natural imbalances might affect your region? What makes your region

particularly vulnerable to these imbalances?

2. Provide a specific example of a weather incident/natural disaster that occurred in your

area in the past and discuss how the incident was handled by local residents and

town/state officials.

3. What can people in your area do to prepare for a similar incident? Consider what can

be done prior to, during, and after the disaster (be sure to include specific details

using information from the CDC and/or FEMA).

4. Compare your area to that of a classmate. What environmental features do you have

in common to produce similar natural disasters OR what features vary, leading to

completely different disasters? Would rescue efforts differ as well?

5. What predictions are being made for how climate change will impact either the

frequency or intensity of future natural disasters in your area? (Hint: refer to the

extreme weather and hurricane resources provided above to find information to

support your ideas).