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LECTURE :3

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSTAINABLE

SYSTEMSUnited Nations University

Institute for Sustainability and Peace

Dr. Srikantha Herath

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OUTLINE

Integrating systems analysis and sustainability

Sustainable Environmental Systems

Water, Energy and Material Cycles Why water?

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ASYSTEM

Set of detailed methods, procedures, and

routines established or formulated to carry out aspecific activity, perform a duty, or solve a

problem.

Organized, purposeful structure regarded as a

'whole' consisting of interrelated and

interdependent elements(components, entities,factors, members, parts etc.). These elements

continually influence one another(directly orindirectly) to maintain their activity and theexistence of the system, in order to achieve the

common purpose the 'goal' of the system.3

Business Directory

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SYSTEMANALYSIS

Behavior of a system is defined by the way its

components interact. System analysis is toreconstruct this behavior by breaking system

into components and understanding theircausal relations.

This analysis can be done experimentally or bycomputer models.

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TYPES OF SYSTEMS

Linear models: Open systems

Static: Does not change with time

Dynamic: Variables and relations may change

over time

Feedback: Response to an action

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COMPONENTS OF A SYSTEM

Interrelations oftheory, experience

and data with the

tasks of statistical,

simulation and

optimization

modelling towards

improved

recommendations for

natural resourcemanagement. (ref:Handbook on the Modelling

of Dynamic Change in

Ecosystems) 6

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SYSTEMMODELING

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Subsurface

Groundwater

Sea

EvaporationRain

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MODELING PROCESS

Problem formulation Concept

System domain

Flow and storage

Observation (reference) Model construction

Diagram to code

Parameters

Sensitivity Calibration and Validation

Model Use Scenario analysis

Back casting and forecasting8

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ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION

Ecosystem services: Providing vital goods nd

services to humans and other organisms.

Sustainable ecology sustainable yield from renewables;

renewable substitutes for non-renewable resources;

capacity of the environment can absorb waste;

How do we maintain healthy ecosystemservices?

Managing consumption, improving production

systems and use of resources. Based on information

from economics

Environmental management. A direct approach

based on a knowledge of environment, earth and

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SUSTAINABILITY

What are the characteristics of a sustainable

system?

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CYCLICCHARACTER

For a system to be sustainable, it should operate

without depleting the available resources - forthe present and future

If there is no resource depletion - recyclethrough cycles

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WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANTCYCLES

Energy

Biogeochemical

Critical global biogeochemical cycles water

oxygen

carbon

nitrogen phosphorus

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ENERGY BALANCE

Of the total energy that reaches the earth ....

6% is reflected by atmosphere

16% is absorbed by atmosphere

20% is reflected by clouds

3% is absorbed by clouds

51% is absorbed by oceans and land

4% is reflected by the surface of the earth Of the energy that remains in the earth (absorbed by atmosphere,

clouds, and earths surface)

64% is radiated out into the space (atmosphere and clouds)

6% is radiated directly into the space by earths surface

7% is utilized in the movement of air

23% is utilized in evaporation of water from earths surface

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http://users/Srikantha/UNU/ISP/gradProgram/APU-2010/images/energyBalance/animation3.swfhttp://users/Srikantha/UNU/ISP/gradProgram/APU-2010/images/energyBalance/animation3.swf

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GLOBAL ENERGY CYCLE

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CLIMATE CHANGE:GLOBAL WARMING

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NITROGEN CYCLE

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Source:

EPA

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CARBONCYCLE

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Source:

NASA

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WATER CYCLE

Earth

Sky

Image:NOAA

Water Circulates in

Atmosphere, surfaceand ground

We do not lose water itis in transition

Average time of stay

Atmosphere

Tr = 12,900/577,000

= 8.2 days

Rivers = 17 days

Ground water 10,000years

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FOOD SECURITY ANDWATER SECURITY

Over the period to 2050 the

world's water will have tosupport the agr icultural

systems that will feed and

create livelihoods for anadditional 2.7 billion people.

Source: FAO

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changepredicts yields from rain-dependent agriculture

could be down by 50 percent by 2020.