carbon cycle

Question 1

what are the stages of the carbon cycle

Answer 1

carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide from respiration and combustion

carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers
the producer will then die, or be eaten by a consumer
when the producer and the last consumer has died they become detritus and then they either decay or don’t decay. at either stage of the producer or the consumer respiration will allow co2 back into the atmosphere.

if they decay they will then decompose and co2 will enter the atmosphere by respiration again

if they dont decay they will become fossil fuels and eventually combust, causing co2 to go back into the atmosphere.

Question 2

what are the stages of the water cycle

Answer 2

Energy from the sun evaporates water from the land and sea forming water vapour

water vapour then rises up, cools down and condenses and becomes precipitation

it then precipitates and the water is given back to the land and the sea

Question 3

what are the stages of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 3

Nitrogen gas from the air is converted into nitrate compounds by nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil or lightning converts nitrogen to nitrate compounds. The harbour process converts nitrogen gas into ammonia.

ammonia is converted into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria in the soil

plants absorb nitrates from uptake from the soil and and use these for proteins.

decomposers break down the dead organisms, urine and faeces, which then puts nitrates back in the soil as ammonia. Ammonia is converted to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria.

Question 4

how does crop rotation help nitrate content

Answer 4

crops such as beans and peas form nitrate with nitrogen fixing bacteria which improves nitrate content in the soil. then the farmer can plant other crops in the nitrate filled soil

Question 5

what are the stages of the acid rain cycle

Answer 5

nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides from cars and factories enter the atmosphere and are turned into acidic gasses

the wind then carries the acidic gasses around the atmosphere

acidic gasses are then dissolved in rain, snow, sleet ect and become acid rain

Question 6

how does acid rain affect the environment

Answer 6

leaves are damaged meaning there is less photosynthesis

root hair cells are damaged so plants take up less mineral ions

limestone, rocks and buildings are eroded.

rivers and lakes become acidic which kills animals and affects the food chain later on