5 - 4 Cycles in Nature Flashcards
What is made of carbon?
All living things on earth (Plants and Animals)
Plant / Animal Respiration
When oxygen is used to convert glucose into ATP. Water and CO2 is released as waste products.
Photosynthesis
Plants use Carbon dioxide and the energy from the sun to produce glucose. O2 (oxygen) is released as a waste product.
Combustion
Burning wood and fossil fuels releases CO2 in the atmosphere as emissions.
Fossil Fuels
When dead and decaying organic matter is trapped underground, overtime the material gets compressed and converted into oil and/or coal.
Ocean uptake
CO2 is dissolved in ocean water making it more acidic.
Decomposition (Carbon)
Organisms such as fungi and bacteria, break down organic material and release CO2 back into the atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases trap infrared heat energy in the atmosphere.
What are three major greenhouse gases in our atmosphere?
CO2, Water Vapor and Methane
The Water Cycle
The continuous movement of water from the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere and back.
Evaporation
Liquid water from oceans, lakes and rivers receive energy from the sun and turn into water vapor. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere.
Transpiration
Excess liquid water from plants exits through the leaves and enters the atmosphere.
Condensation
As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere it begins to cool and turn back into a liquid form (Clouds).
Precipitation
Water falling from the sky in the form of Snow, Sleet, Rain, or Hail.
Runoff
Water moving along the surface of the Earth.
Infiltration
Water being absorbed by the ground.
The Nitrogen Cycle
The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms.
Why is Nitrogen an important element in life?
Proteins, DNA and many other structures in the body need nitrogen.
Atmospheric Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the air (78%) However, nitrogen gas cannot be used by most living organisms. It must be “fixed”
Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen fixation is a process in which nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is converted into ammonium (NH4+) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This is done mostly by bacteria in soil, some plants, and lightning strikes.
Nitrogen Uptake (Assimilation)
Organic Nitrogen is absorbed by plants through their roots for their nitrogen needs. Animals consume plants or other animals for their nitrogen uptake.
Decomposition (Nitrogen)
Bacteria decompose plants and animals, releasing their nitrogen (as well as carbon) back into the atmosphere and Earth.
