Systems concepts applied to desert landscapes: inputs, outputs, energy, stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative feedback, dynamic equilibrium
Geographers treat a desert as a system — a set of connected parts. Energy and materials enter as inputs, move through stores, and leave as outputs.
Real World
In the Namib Desert, fog rolling in from the cold Benguela Current acts as a key input, sustaining beetle populations that harvest moisture from the air — a transfer that maintains the ecosystem's dynamic equilibrium.
Exam Focus
Always identify whether feedback is positive or negative — stating 'feedback occurs' without specifying direction loses marks.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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