Cycle Vocabulary

Question 1

Atmosphere

Answer 1

The gas, (The air) surrounding the earth . 78% of the atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen or N2, this is an unusable form for most organisms.

Question 2

Nitrogen

Answer 2

An element that all living organisms require, (DNA, proteins, chlorophyll) however, cannot be used in the form that surrounds the Earth

Question 3

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 3

The process of converting N2, unusable nitrogen, into biologically available nitrogen.

Question 4

Nitrification

Answer 4

There are two steps to nitrification. The first step is microbes change ammonia to nitrites (an unusable form of nitrogen for plants).The second step is is to change the nitrites into nitrates (a useable form of nitrogen for plants).

Question 5

Ammonification

Answer 5

When an organism dies or excretes waste, the nitrogen is found in the amino acids or DNA. Fungi break down the nitrogen and release the nitrogen back into the ecosystem.

Question 6

Denitrification

Answer 6

The process that changes the nitrates into nitrogen gas (N2), back into an unusable form.

Question 7

Carbon reservoir

Answer 7

A part of Earth that stores carbon.
Examples of carbon reservoirs include the atmosphere, the ocean, soils, sediments, and the biosphere.

Question 8

Carbon sink

Answer 8

A carbon reservoir that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and stores it for a long period of time.

Question 9

Photosynthesis

Answer 9

A process in which plants use energy from light to change carbon dioxide and water into glucose (sugar) and oxygen.

Question 10

Carbon Cycle

Answer 10

The movement of carbon from reservoir to reservoir

Question 11

Water cycle

Answer 11

The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes. Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow.

Question 12

Evaporation

Answer 12

The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.

Question 13

Transpiration

Answer 13

The evaporation of water through minute pores, or stomata, in the leaves of plants.

Question 14

Infiltration

Answer 14

The process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.

Question 15

Run-Off

Answer 15

Water “running off”, which means flowing along the land surface, from a high to low point.

Question 16

Precipitation

Answer 16

Water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

Question 17

Condensation

Answer 17

The process by which water vapor (gas) in the air is changed into liquid water. Condensation is crucial to the water cycle because it is responsible for the formation of clouds.

Question 18

Groundwater

Answer 18

Water that infiltrates or seeps into the ground. Sometimes this water can flow out of the water, like a spring. Sometimes, this water can seep from the ground into a lake, pond, or ocean.

Question 19

Aquifer

Answer 19

Water deep underground that can be stored for 1,000 of years. It can be found in water bearing, permeable rock.