Environment
The most recent and complete environment model documentation is available on Pardee's website. Although the text in this interactive system is, for some IFs models, often significantly out of date, you may still find the basic description useful to you.
Most of the environmental elements of the model are included within other modules, such as Economy and Agriculture. Please see those modules for more information, or click through the links below to learn more about how the IFs model can help environment-related analysis. <header><hgroup>
Structure and Agent System: Environment
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System/Subsystem
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Environment (e.g. CO2, water)
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Organizing Structure
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Systemic Accounting
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Stocks
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Atmospheric carbon Oceanic carbon Forest area Renewable water resources
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Flows
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Annual Emissions Water Use
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Key Aggregate Relationships (illustrative, not comprehensive)
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Oceanic absorption of CO2 Global temperatures with CO2
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Key Agent-Class Behavior Relationships (illustrative, not comprehensive)
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Governments and environmental policies regarding emissions Farmers and water use with agriculture
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Dominant Relations: Environment
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Environment: Dominant Relations
Atmospheric carbon dioxide is function of emissions from fossil fuel burning. Water use is primarily a function of agricultural sector size (and therefore on irrigation). Forest area is dependent upon the rate of conversion of forest to crop land and grazing area.
For a causal diagram see Environment Flow Charts Overview.
For equations see Environment Equations Overview.
Key dynamics are directly linked to the dominant relations:
- The energy submodel determines fossil fuel use, and the agricultural model determines agricultural sector size and land conversion patterns. See those models for discussion of dominant patterns and of control parameters.
Environment: Selected Added Value
The larger environmental model provides a more extended model of carbon dioxide, including oceanic absorption rates and possible impact of build-up on global temperature and agricultural patterns. <header><hgroup>
Environment Flow Charts
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Overview
Among the most important elements of the "environmental submodel," which is imbedded in the other portions of the model, is the calculation of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and global warming.