Dynamics - Systems models

6 important questions on Dynamics - Systems models

What is stock (state variable, container, reservoir)?

The amount of material (biomass, volume, population).
  • initial value
  • is updated every time step
  • the amout in the stock can influence flows of material in or out of the stock

What is flow (rate variable/flux)?

The movement of material that enters or leaves a stock per unit of time.
  • is updated every time step
  • values can be influenced by amount in the stocks or by auxiliary variables

For example:
  • loss of timber due to exploitation
  • carbon sequestration

What is the converter (constants/auxiliary variable)?

A formation that is necessary to calculate or to determine the initial amount of a stock.
  • connected to flows or other constants using information arrows
  • no do contain material
  • may change over time: stochastically or deterministically

Examples:
  • pro capita mortality rate of a population
  • forest regrowth after disturbance
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What is the action connector (information arrow)?

Allows for the use of information from convertors or state variables in calculating the flows.
  • not to stock

What does the time step depend on?

  • Input data: per day, month, year?
  • Needed output: quick or slow responses?
  • small time steps are more acccurale
  • we use DT=1, but check this!

What are the differences between matrix models and systems models?

This.

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