A geosystem is such a territorial totality of elements and components of nature that are directly related. In such a system, the external environment has a direct effect on them. For the geosystem, it is served by neighboring or adjacent similar natural objects with a higher status, which also includes the geographical envelope, outer space, the lithosphere and human society.
Levels
Local, regional and planetary geographic systems are distinguished. The planetary level is represented as a geographic envelope. Brownov 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. Local geosystems are facies, natural boundaries and other small natural-territorial complexes.
Hierarchy
To make it easier to determine all the features and properties of geosystems, it is necessary to specify them and determine to which hierarchy it belongs. Geographers believe that it is necessary to highlight the main step - the landscape. Here, the facies occupies the lowest position, and the highest epigheosphere.
Evolution and dynamics
In the course of historical development, the landscape sphere was formed together with the hierarchy of geosystems. The evolutionary process has been going on for billions of years. The results of this development are 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 the 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. At the same time, its individual components may be slightly older. In order to correctly establish the age of a geosystem, it is necessary to form an idea of the evolution of systemic relationships in a particular geological segment.
The age of biogeocenoses
All these are questions of physical geography. They can be solved only by field landscape research methods. Scientists argue that the age of biogeocenoses of the same facies can be different. Durability is measured primarily for biogeocenoses and facies. Often the age of the first is determined by the period of time he held a certain territory. Its antiquity is easy to determine through excavations. Thus, it is possible to establish the state of the geosystem.
Landscape dynamics
The landscape sphere is characterized by many dynamic states, but scientists agreed that it is worth highlighting only two:
- Efifinal.
- Variable.
Root, complex-root and conditionally root systems belong to the equipial components of the geosystem:
- Indigenous. They have strong internal and external communications. They are the final natural complex.
- Conditionally-root and compound-root systems. They are similar to the root ones, but they just didn’t return to their natural state and did not get balance within themselves, as well as with the environment.
- Complex root systems are altered as a result of hypertrophy or malnutrition. This happens due to excess moisture, or a lack of oxygen in peat bogs.
Self-regulation
Thanks to the process of self-regulation, the very structure of geosystems is changing. After the stabilization of these components has passed, a period of homeostasis begins, when the system becomes resistant to external factors. In the understanding of many scientists, self-regulation of a geosystem is the provision of the relative development of all its elements. If the structure is severely disrupted, then self-regulation ceases and this shell comes to an end.
Link Modes
The relationship between the components determines the direction of regulation of geosystems. As a result of this, feedbacks appear which are divided into positive and negative. The former reinforce the chain reaction that causes the transformation of the system, while the negative ones contribute to the restoration of equilibrium, due to which the self-regulation of natural objects on a regional scale is resumed. The process of external and internal exposure lasts a long period of time.
The purpose of the creation and structure of the geosystem
The goal of a geosystem is to achieve a steady 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 being transformed. Cycles regularly occur inside, due to the conversion and metabolism.
The most important property is biomass production.
The ability of soil formation allows the soil to form as a result of the interaction of living organisms and their residues 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 is responsible for the relative positioning of the components, and the second deals with the ordering of lower-ranking geosystems.
A solid foundation serves as the most persistent component of the landscape, but if it suddenly collapses, it can no longer recover. For the landscape to be stable, it must be stable.
Each type of landscape has its own stability:
- Tundra type - underdeveloped soils due to lack of heat recover too slowly and are unstable to technogenic loads.
- Taiga type - due 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, and 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 stability.
Control
Scientists distinguish several forms of geosystem management:
- Direct - directly on the territory of the simplest systems. It could be irrigation.
- Multistage - subsystems help complex and developed systems.
- Operational management.
- Integrated Management.
- Description of the region.
- The element of constructive regional studies helps to solve problems of organization such as the choice of space or its improvement.
Terminology
- Imaginary geosystems - the possibility of their existence in different states.
- Functionality - a set of constantly operating and variable processes.
- Inertia is the ability to keep one’s state unchanged for a certain period of time.
- Renewability - the ability to return to the initial stage after transformation.
- The potential of the geosystem is an indicator of the potential fulfillment by the landscape of socio-economic functions that are able to satisfy the different needs of society.
