Organic Machine And William Cronon's Changes In The Land
Energy Flow Systems
Richard White's Organic Machine, and William Cronon's Changes in the
Land, both examine environments as energy flow systems. The energy flow model was utilized by the authors to explain relationships within ecosystems. Richard White's thesis is to examine the river as an organic machine, as an energy system that, although modified by human intervention, maintains it's natural, its "unmade" qualities. White emphasizes on energy because it is a useful concept that can be easily understood. He says, "the flow of the river is energy, so is the electricity that comes from the dams that block that flow.
Human labor is energy; so are the calories that are stored as fat by salmon for their journey upstream." White notes …show more content…
William Cronon also uses an energy flow cycle in his book Changes in the Land. Cronon describes how the Indians and the Colonists create different cycles with the same environment. The European farmers cleared the forest for fields to plant corn and grain. Farmers also cleared land for their animals to graze on. The corn and grain growing in the fields took energy from the rich soil and the water. This energy was then passed to humans or animals that ate the food. The animals that grazed the land, took energy from the grass and water. They to would pass energy to humans by the form of labor or in the form of food. The energy in the soil came from the trees that held the water and rich top soil in place. As the trees were cut, the valuable topsoil was washed away from the rain and snow that easily washes into the streams and rivers. Soon the soil dries and is lifeless because the energy system was disturbed. Cronon's solution to the European's problem was to sustain the farm land. Wood should be cut when necessary and new trees should be replaced to
Richard White's Organic Machine, and William Cronon's Changes in the
Land, both examine environments as energy flow systems. The energy flow model was utilized by the authors to explain relationships within ecosystems. Richard White's thesis is to examine the river as an organic machine, as an energy system that, although modified by human intervention, maintains it's natural, its "unmade" qualities. White emphasizes on energy because it is a useful concept that can be easily understood. He says, "the flow of the river is energy, so is the electricity that comes from the dams that block that flow.
Human labor is energy; so are the calories that are stored as fat by salmon for their journey upstream." White notes …show more content…
William Cronon also uses an energy flow cycle in his book Changes in the Land. Cronon describes how the Indians and the Colonists create different cycles with the same environment. The European farmers cleared the forest for fields to plant corn and grain. Farmers also cleared land for their animals to graze on. The corn and grain growing in the fields took energy from the rich soil and the water. This energy was then passed to humans or animals that ate the food. The animals that grazed the land, took energy from the grass and water. They to would pass energy to humans by the form of labor or in the form of food. The energy in the soil came from the trees that held the water and rich top soil in place. As the trees were cut, the valuable topsoil was washed away from the rain and snow that easily washes into the streams and rivers. Soon the soil dries and is lifeless because the energy system was disturbed. Cronon's solution to the European's problem was to sustain the farm land. Wood should be cut when necessary and new trees should be replaced to