What is a System?

Definition of a System

A system is a collection of parts which A system may be defined as

Any structure, device, scheme or procedure
interact with each other to function as a
Real or Abstract,
whole That interrelates in a given time reference,
– Example: cooling system in a car: radiator, fan, An input, cause, or stimulus,
water pump, thermostat, hoses and clamps Of matter, energy, or information

A set of objects, which interact in a regular, And
interdependent manner An output, effect, or response
Of information, energy, or matter

There are several definitions available in - Dooge (1973)
literature for system
A system is a set of connected parts that form a whole
-Ven Te Chow (1988)

Sub-system
Hydrologic System

A hydrologic system is defined as a structure or volume in space,

surrounded by a boundary, that accepts water and other inputs,
operates on them internally, and produces them as outputs
The boundary is a continuous surface defined in three dimensions
Sub-system enclosing the volume or structure. A working medium enters the
system as input, interacts with the structure and other media, and
leaves as output.

Physical, chemical, and biological processes operate on the working

media within the system. The most common working media involved
in hydrologic analysis are water, air and heat energy.
Sub-system

Hydrologic Cycle as a System

1
Watershed as a Hydrologic System
Schematic Representation of a System Schematic Representation of a System
Transformation function can simply be written as
Q(t) = ΩI(t) where, Ω (ohm) is transfer function
This is called transfer equation of the system
If this relationship can be expressed by an algebraic equation, then Ω is
an algebraic operator.
For example, if Q(t) = CI(t), where C is a constant, then Transformation
function is the operator Ω = Q(t)/I(t) = C
Again, if the transformation is described by a differential equation, then
the transfer function serves as a differential operator.
Schematic Representation of a System
Parameters, β
System
Inputs, I f(randomness, space, time)
Outputs, Q
Policies, α Transformation function
Q(t) = Ω[α
α(t), β (t)]*I(t)
Transformation function can simply be written as
Q(t) = ΩI(t) where, Ω is transfer function
Schematic Representation of a System Operation
For example, a linear reservoir has its storage ‘S’ related to its outflow ‘Q’ by
S = kQ, where k is a constant having the dimensions of time.
From the hydrologic equation, we know the time rate of change of storage
dS/dt is equal to the difference between the input and the output
dS/dt = I(t)-Q(t)
Equating S between the two equations and rearranging,
kdQ/dt + Q(t) = I(t)
Ω = Q(t)/I(t) = 1/(1+kD)-------(A), where D is differential operator = d/dt
If the transformation equation has been determined and can be solved, it
yields the output as a function of the input. Equation (A) describes a linear
system, if k is a constant. If k is a function of the input I or the output Q, then,
the equation (A) describes a nonlinear system, which is much more difficult
to solve