# surroundings (environment)

the other matter that is in space around an object

- Computed level: L5 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: environment.surroundings  ·  Arena: surroundings

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [matter](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-matter.substance), [space](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-space.extent), [object](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-object.entity)

**Through:** Matter exists in space, forming the environment around an object by being distinct from it yet adjacent.

**Novel properties:**
- relative location
- contextual adjacency
- environmental distinction

## Examples
- The International Space Station orbits Earth surrounded by vacuum, debris, and solar radiation. *(space)*
- Central Park in New York City is bordered by skyscrapers, roads, and millions of pedestrians. *(urban)*
- A coral reef thrives amidst seawater, fish schools, and shifting sandbanks in the Great Barrier Reef. *(ecology)*

## Used by
- [environmental](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-environmental.surroundings) (L6)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-surroundings.environment*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-surroundings.environment.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*