Feedback Loops
Studying Earth as a whole system helps us understand how all these different components and processes interact. One particular kind of interaction is called a feedback loop. Feedback occurs when the output of one system contributes to the input of another system, creating a chain of events that can cycle around in a “loop.”
You often experience feedback loops in your own life. For example, do you play an instrument or a sport? Then you know that the more you practice, the better you get. The better you get, the more likely you will want to keep playing. The more you keep playing, the more you will continue to improve. This is an example of a positive feedback loop, where a change to the system is amplified (i.e., the improvement in your playing ability leads to more playing and more improvement). Likewise, the less you practice, the less you improve; the less you improve, the more frustrated you will likely feel and the less likely you will want to practice.
The opposite of this is a negative feedback loop. This is when the change to the system is lessened, or diminished, by the resulting feedback loop. For instance, when your body temperature rises after exercising, your body produces sweat, which cools the body as it evaporates from the skin. In this example, the increase in body heat is the change that leads to the production of sweat. This in turn decreases the body's heat and returns your body to your normal temperature—diminishing the rise in temperature. Thus, your body temperature stays balanced.
Take Notes
Can you think of other examples of positive or negative feedback loops, either in nature or in your daily life?
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