Complexity and Organization in Earth Systems

The hydrologic cycle is an exquisitely coordinated, balanced, interaction between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the land that controls, among other things, the planet’s temperature by moving large quantities of matter and energy. The system is incredibly complex with a myriad of positive and negative feedbacks acting at a variety of scales. Much of what we experience in our natural and altered environments results from these complex interactions. Surprisingly (or maybe not) this complexity many times results in beautifully organized expressions of the hydrologic state that are commonly amenable to fairly simple explanations.

 This talk explores some outcomes of hydrologic complexity and organization. Topics include the impact of soil moisture on the atmosphere and vice-versa, the impact of deforestation on the Amazon cloud climate, the self-organization of landscapes and river basins over very long time periods and the roles of vegetation on landscape evolution and in turn the role of the landscape on vegetation distribution.