Terrell Smith-Mudslides/Landslides

1. How do the earth systems affect each other? Earth systems affect each other through different cycles or systems that happen every day and have a flow of energy. For example, photosynthesis shows how all of the earth’s systems interact with each other where sunlight is able to give light energy for the plant (biosphere) to take in which will transfer it into chemical energy. While the plant is located in soil (geosphere). The water that the plant takes up through its roots is the (hydrosphere). The carbon dioxide that the plant takes in and the oxygen that the plant releases into the air are part of the (atmosphere). 2. How can an understanding of environmental science aid in handling natural disasters? An understanding of environmental science can aid in handling natural disasters because if you understand how certain earth systems interact and how different environments are then either certain natural disasters could be prevented or tragedy for people could be avoided ahead of time. For example, landslides can be prevented through different ways like modifications to slope geometry, installing structures like retaining walls, and diverting debris pathways. 3. What efforts can we make to create a sustainable future? Some efforts we can make to create a sustainable future are reducing climate change and global warming through using more renewable resources, keeping a balance for greenhouse gases, even continuing to understand and study environmental science, and more. My reaction to our findings and overall project: My reaction to our findings is that I found it pretty interesting to see how landslides or mudslides actually work and how they look when they happen. I think the idea of a natural disasters project is interesting, especially since I got to learn more about a natural disaster I didn’t know much about which are landslides/mudslides.