Cycles in Nature Flashcards
Define atmosphere
The gases surrounding a planet or moon, held by gravity 
define biodiversity
the variety of life on earth, or in a particular region
Define biosphere
The collection of organisms in all their diversity 
Define the carbon cycle
The movement of carbon within, and between all four earth systems 
Define carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas found in our atmosphere. The primary greenhouse gases emitted by human activities
Produced mainly by respiration volcanoes, forest fires and the burning of fossil fuels
Define condensation
A change in state from gas to liquid 
Define ecosystem
A community of interacting organisms and their environment 
define evaporation
A change of state from liquid to gas 
define geosphere
a planets, rocks, metal soils, and sediments
includes abiotic parts of soils and skeletons that may be fossilised
define glucose
A simple sugar made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen 
define hydrosphere
All forms of Water on earth
Define photosynthesis
A reaction that transforms light energy into chemical energy
Occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria 
define the water cycle
The continuous movement of water on earth
define exosphere
The highest and thinnest layer of the atmosphere
Define Thermo sphere
The hottest layer in the atmosphere
define mesosphere
The coldest layer, where meteors disintegrate
Define stratosphere
ozone layer found here
define troposphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where the weather is 
define transpiration
The evaporation of water from plants leaves, stems and flowers
Define precipitation
Rain, which falls from clouds due to gravitational pull
Define percolation
The movement of water through the soil itself 
Define cellular respiration
The process which organisms combine oxygen with food molecules to create ATP which is used for energy
why are plants green?
Plants are green because of the chemical chlorophyll, which uses energy from the sun to split H2O molecules and combine them with carbon dioxide to make glucose and a byproduct of oxygen 
what does fermentation do
Fermentation creates methane, which is a greenhouse gas
