{{Short description|Scientific study of the Earth's spheres and their natural integrated systems}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} [[File:Genomics GTL Program Payoffs.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|An ecological analysis of {{chem|C|O|2}} in an [[ecosystem]]. As [[systems biology]], [[systems ecology]] seeks a [[holistic]] view of the interactions and transactions within and between biological and ecological systems.]] '''Earth system science''' ('''ESS''') is the application of [[systems science]] to the [[Earth science|Earth]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Earth System History|last=Stanley |first=Steven M. |publisher= Macmillan|year=2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jd01mugCR7EC|isbn=978-0-7167-3907-4 }}</ref><ref name="jacobson2000">{{cite book|last1=Jacobson|first1=Michael|title=Earth System Science, From Biogeochemical Cycles to Global Changes|date=2000|publisher=Elsevier Academic Press|location=London|isbn=978-0-12-379370-6|edition=2nd|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=85YkdAm5tdoC&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA52.w.5.0.135|access-date=7 September 2015|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kump|first1=Lee|title=The Earth System|date=2004|publisher=Prentice Hall|location=New Jersey|isbn=978-0-13-142059-5|display-authors=etal|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last2=Hamblin |first2=W.K. |last1=Christiansen |first1=E.H. |title=Dynamic Earth |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=KEUoAwAAQBAJ&q=Dynamic+Earth+Hamblin |year=2014 |publisher= Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=978-1-4496-5902-8 }}</ref> In particular, it considers interactions and 'feedbacks', through material and energy fluxes, between the Earth's sub-systems' cycles, processes and "spheres"—[[atmosphere]], [[hydrosphere]], [[cryosphere]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Cryospheric Systems: Glaciers and Permafrost |first1=Charles |last1=Harris |first2=Julian B. |last2=Murton |publisher=Geological Society of London|year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F0KswTI39l8C&q=Cryospheric+Systems:+Glaciers+and+Permafrost|isbn=978-1-86239-175-8 }}</ref> [[geosphere]], [[pedosphere]], [[lithosphere]], [[biosphere]],<ref>{{cite book|title=An Introduction to the Earth-Life System|first=Charles |last=Cockell|publisher=Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=95omVa4NRHIC|isbn=978-0-521-49391-8 |date=2008-02-28 }}</ref> and even the [[magnetosphere]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Magnetospheric Current Systems|first1= Shin-ichi |last1=Ohtani |first2=Ryoichi |last2=Fujii |first3=Michael |last3=Hesse |first4=Robert L. |last4=Lysak |publisher=American Geophysical Union|year=2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QkuzsHT_U7sC&q=Magnetospheric+Current+Systems|isbn= 978-0-87590-976-9 }}</ref>—as well as the impact of human societies on these components.<ref>{{cite book|title=Earth System Science in the Anthropocene: Emerging Issues and Problems|year=2006|first1=Eckart |last1=Ehlers|first2=C. |last2=Moss|first3=Thomas |last3=Krafft|publisher=Springer Science+Business Media|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Id3Z5XTcOWgC&q=Earth+System+Science+in+the+Anthropocene:+Emerging+Issues+and+Problems|isbn=978-3-540-26590-0}}</ref> At its broadest scale, Earth system science brings together researchers across both the [[natural science|natural]] and [[social science|social]] sciences, from fields including [[ecology]], [[economics]], [[geography]], [[geology]], [[glaciology]], [[meteorology]], [[oceanography]], [[climatology]], [[paleontology]], [[sociology]], and [[space science]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Butz|first=Stephen D.|title=Science of Earth Systems|year=2004|publisher=Thomson Learning|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JB4ArbvXXDEC|isbn=978-0-7668-3391-3}}</ref> Like the broader subject of [[systems science]], Earth system science assumes a [[holism in science|holistic view]] of the dynamic interaction between the Earth's [[Outline of earth science#Earth's spheres|spheres]] and their many constituent subsystems fluxes and processes, the resulting [[Self-organization|spatial organization]] and time evolution of these systems, and their variability, stability and instability.<ref>{{cite book |title=Self-Organized Criticality in Earth Systems |last= Hergarten |first=Stefan |year=2002 |publisher=Springer-Verlag|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eBZbupdVnYAC&q=editions:XHdrTJ13cowC|isbn= 978-3-540-43452-8 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Tsonis|first1=Anastasios A.|last2=Elsner|first2=James B.|title=Nonlinear Dynamics in Geosciences |publisher=Springer Science+Business Media |year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DLT_oqrs2gC&q=%22Nonlinear+Dynamics+in+Geosciences%22|isbn=978-0-387-34918-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Dynamics of Multiscale Earth Systems |first1= Horst J. |last1=Neugebauer |first2=Clemens |last2=Simmer|publisher=Springer |year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h_y0Tg6KjbAC&q=editions:v80ZkcBaS6wC|isbn= 978-3-540-41796-5 }}</ref> Subsets of Earth System science include [[systems geology]]<ref>{{cite book |first1=Dorothy |last1=Merritts |first2=Andrew |last2=De Wet |first3=Kirsten |last3=Menking |title=Environmental Geology: An Earth System Science Approach |publisher=W. H. Freeman |year=1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOdfzBxgZGMC&q=systems+geology|isbn=978-0-7167-2834-4 }} </ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Earth's Evolving Systems: The History of Planet Earth |first=Ronald |last=Martin |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|year=2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=agaOKrvAoeAC&q=%22earth+systems%22+geology|isbn=978-0-7637-8001-2 }}</ref> and [[systems ecology]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=David M.|title=Fundamental Processes in Ecology: An Earth Systems Approach|year=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PFGWHyRyzBwC&q=Fundamental+Processes+in+Ecology:+An+Earth+Systems+Approach|isbn=978-0-19-856846-9}}</ref> and many aspects of Earth System science are fundamental to the subjects of [[physical geography]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Physical Geography|first1=Michael |last1=Pidwirny |first2=Scott |last2=Jones|url=http://www.physicalgeography.net|year=1999–2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Physical Geography: Great Systems and Global Environments |first1=William M. |last1=Marsh |first2=Martin M.|last2=Kaufman |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uF3aJSC20yMC&q=physical+geography+system|isbn=978-0-521-76428-5 }}</ref> and [[Climatology|climate science]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Understanding the Earth System: Global Change Science for Application |first1=Sarah E. |last1=Cornell |first2=I. Colin |last2= Prentice |first3=Joanna I. |last3=House |first4=Catherine J. |last4=Downy|year=2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J14gAwAAQBAJ&q=Understanding+the+Earth+System:+Global+Change+Science+for+Application&pg=PP1|isbn=978-1-139-56054-2 }}</ref>
==Definition== The [[Science Education Resource Center]], [[Carleton College]], offers the following description: "Earth System science embraces chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics and applied sciences in transcending disciplinary boundaries to treat the Earth as an integrated system. It seeks a deeper understanding of the physical, chemical, biological and human interactions that determine the past, current and future states of the Earth. Earth System science provides a physical basis for understanding the world in which we live and upon which humankind seeks to achieve sustainability".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/earthsystem/nutshell/|title=Earth System Science in a Nutshell|publisher=[[Carleton College]] |access-date=2009-03-10}}</ref>
Earth System science has articulated four overarching, definitive and critically important features of the Earth System, which include:
# Variability: Many of the Earth System's natural 'modes' and variabilities across space and time are beyond human experience, because of the stability of the recent Holocene. Much Earth System science therefore relies on studies of the Earth's past behaviour and models to anticipate future behaviour in response to pressures. # Life: Biological processes play a much stronger role in the functioning and responses of the Earth System than previously thought. It appears to be integral to every part of the Earth System. # Connectivity: Processes are connected in ways and across depths and lateral distances that were previously unknown and inconceivable. # Non-linear: The behaviour of the Earth System is typified by strong non-linearities. This means that abrupt change can result when relatively small changes in a 'forcing function' push the System across a '[[Planetary boundaries|threshold]]'.
== History == For millennia, humans have speculated how the physical and living elements on the surface of the Earth combine, with gods and goddesses frequently posited to embody specific elements. The notion that the Earth, itself, is alive was a regular theme of Greek philosophy and religion.<ref name="Tickell">{{cite news |last=Tickell |first=Crispin |url=http://www.le.ac.uk/ebulletin-archive/ebulletin/features/2000-2009/2006/11/nparticle.2006-11-20.html |title=Earth Systems Science: Are We Pushing Gaia Too Hard? |work= 46th Annual Bennett Lecture - University of Leicester |location=London |publisher=University of Leicester |year=2006 |access-date=2015-09-21 }}</ref>
Early scientific interpretations of the Earth system began in the field of [[geology]], initially in the Middle East<ref>Fielding H. Garrison, ''An introduction to the history of medicine'', W.B. Saunders, 1921.</ref> and China,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Age of Achievement: A.D. 750 to the End of the Fifteenth Century: The Achievements |series=History of civilizations of Central Asia |editor1-first=M. S. |editor1-last=Asimov |editor2-first=Clifford Edmund |editor2-last=Bosworth |isbn=978-92-3-102719-2 |pages=211–214}}</ref> and largely focused on aspects such as the [[age of the Earth]] and the large-scale processes involved in [[Mountain formation|mountain]] and [[Origin of water on Earth|ocean]] formation. As [[History of geology|geology developed as a science]], understanding of the interplay of different facets of the Earth system increased, leading to the inclusion of factors such as the [[Structure of the Earth|Earth's interior]], [[Formation and evolution of the Solar System|planetary geology]], [[Biosphere|living systems]] and [[Earth analog|Earth-like worlds]].
In many respects, the foundational concepts of Earth System science can be seen in the natural philosophy 19th century geographer [[Alexander von Humboldt]].<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Science |title=Alexander von Humboldt and the General Physics of the Earth |first=Stephen T. |last=Jackson |year=2009 |volume=324 |issue=5927 |pages=596–597 |doi=10.1126/science.1171659 |pmid=19407186 |s2cid=206518912 |url=http://faculty.jsd.claremont.edu/dmcfarlane/bio176mcfarlane/pdf%20papers/Humboldt%20hsitory.pdf |access-date=11 November 2015 |archive-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412023559/http://faculty.jsd.claremont.edu/dmcfarlane/bio176mcfarlane/pdf%20papers/Humboldt%20hsitory.pdf }}</ref> In the 20th century, [[Vladimir Vernadsky]] (1863–1945) saw the functioning of the [[biosphere]] as a geological force generating a dynamic disequilibrium, which in turn promoted the diversity of life.
In parallel, the field of [[systems science]] was developing across numerous other scientific fields, driven in part by the increasing availability and [[Computer performance|power]] of [[computer]]s, and leading to the development of [[climate model]]s that began to allow the detailed and interacting [[numerical weather prediction|simulation]]s of the Earth's [[weather]] and [[climate]].<ref name=edwards2010>{{cite journal |last=Edwards |first=P.N. |year=2010 |title=History of climate modelling |journal=Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change |volume=2 |pages=128–139 |doi=10.1002/wcc.95 |hdl=2027.42/79438 |s2cid=38650354 |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79438/1/95_ftp.pdf |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Subsequent extension of these models has led to the development of "Earth system models" (ESMs) that include facets such as the cryosphere and the biosphere.<ref name=washington2009>{{cite journal |last1=Washington |first1=W.M. |last2=Buja |first2=L. |last3=Craig |first3=A. |year=2009 |title=The computational future for climate and Earth system models: on the path to petaflop and beyond |journal=Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A |volume=367 |issue= 1890|pages=833–846 |doi=10.1098/rsta.2008.0219 |pmid=19087933 |bibcode=2009RSPTA.367..833W |doi-access=free }}</ref>
In 1983 a [[NASA]] committee called the Earth System Science Committee was formed. The earliest reports of NASA's ESSC, [http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112104410706;view=1up;seq=3 ''Earth System Science: Overview''] (1986), and the book-length [https://books.google.com/books?id=Vj4rAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA173 ''Earth System Science: A Closer View''] (1988), constitute a major landmark in the formal development of Earth system science.<ref>{{cite journal| last1=Mooney| first1=Harold| title=Evolution of natural and social science interactions in global change research programs| journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences| date=26 February 2013| volume= 110| issue = Supplement 1, 3665–3672| pages=3665–3672| doi=10.1073/pnas.1107484110| display-authors=etal| pmid=23297237| pmc=3586612| bibcode=2013PNAS..110.3665M| doi-access=free}}</ref> Early works discussing Earth system science, like these NASA reports, generally emphasized the increasing human impacts on the Earth system as a primary driver for the need of greater integration among the life and geo-sciences, making the origins of Earth system science parallel to the beginnings of [[global change]] studies and programs.
== Climate science == Climatology and climate change have been central to Earth System science since its inception, as evidenced by the prominent place given to climate change in the early NASA reports discussed above. The Earth's [[climate system]] is a prime example of an emergent property of the whole planetary system, that is, one which cannot be fully understood without regarding it as a single integrated entity. It is also a system where human impacts have been growing rapidly in recent decades, lending immense importance to the successful development and advancement of Earth System science research. As just one example of the centrality of [[climatology]] to the field, the mission statement of one of the earliest centers for Earth System science research, the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, reads, "the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) maintains a mission to describe, model, and understand the Earth's climate system".<ref>{{cite web|title=Earth System Science Center|url=http://www.essc.psu.edu/|publisher=Penn State University|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref>
{{excerpt|Climate system}}
== Education == Earth System science can be studied at a postgraduate level at some universities. In general education, the [[American Geophysical Union]], in cooperation with the [[Keck Geology Consortium]] and with support from five divisions within the [[National Science Foundation]], convened a workshop in 1996, "to define common educational goals among all disciplines in the Earth sciences". In its report, participants noted that, "The fields that make up the Earth and space sciences are currently undergoing a major advancement that promotes understanding the Earth as a number of interrelated systems". Recognizing the rise of this [[systems approach]], the workshop report recommended that an Earth System science curriculum be developed with support from the National Science Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/spheres/intro.htm |title=Shaping the Future of Undergraduate Earth Science Education |publisher=American Geophysical Union |access-date=2009-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916214004/http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/spheres/intro.htm |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref>
In 2000, the Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA) was begun, and currently includes the participation of 40+ institutions, with over 3,000 teachers having completed an ESSEA course as of fall 2009".<ref>{{cite web|title=Earth System Science Education Alliance|url=http://essea.strategies.org/background.html|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922165412/http://essea.strategies.org/background.html}}</ref>
== Related concepts == The concept of ''earth system law'' (still in its infancy as of 2021) is a sub-discipline of [[earth system governance]], itself a subfield of earth system sciences analyzed from a social sciences perspective.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Petersmann |first=Marie-Catherine |date=2021 |title=Sympoietic thinking and Earth System Law: The Earth, its subjects and the law |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2589811621000185 |journal=Earth System Governance |language=en |volume=9 |article-number=100114 |doi=10.1016/j.esg.2021.100114|doi-access=free}} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License]</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Earth sciences|Ecology|Geography|Global warming|Systems science|Weather}} {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * {{annotated link|Earth science}} * {{annotated link|Earth system governance}} * {{annotated link|Earth System Science Partnership}} * {{annotated link|Earth systems engineering and management}} * {{annotated link|Earth's spheres|Ecosphere}} * {{annotated link|Geosphere}} * {{annotated link|Global change}} * {{annotated link|Planetary boundaries}} * {{annotated link|Systems geology}} {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commonscatinline}} * [https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-019-0005-6 Earth system science] at Nature.com
{{Systems}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Earth system sciences| ]] [[Category:Global natural environment]] [[Category:Complex systems theory]]