Environmental Cycles

Question 1

The water cycle

Answer 1

Cycling of water through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, driven by solar energy

Question 2

Transpiration

Answer 2

Water is absorbed by plants from soil through their roots, water travels up the stem to the leaves and is released into the atmosphere through the stomata.

Question 3

Condensation

Answer 3

Cooling of water vapor in atmosphere, condenses into droplets forming clouds

Question 4

Precipitation

Answer 4

Water drops formed by condensation fall to earth as rain, snow or hail

Question 5

Surface run off

Answer 5

Refers to t he movement of water over the land surface

• ends in streams rivers oceans etc
  -transports sediment nutrients and pollutants

Question 6

Infiltration

Answer 6

Precipitation that falls onto land can soak into the soil, refilling groundwater sources

Question 7

Ground water flow

Answer 7

Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater which slowly moves through underground aquifers

Question 8

Aquifer

Answer 8

A body of porous rock or sediment that holds groundwater

Question 9

Evaporation

Answer 9

The sun heats bodies of water and causes water to change from liquid to gas, rising into the atmosphere

Question 10

Freezing

Answer 10

Converts liquid water into solid water, acts as water storage and removes water from the cycle until it is melted

Question 11

Melting

Answer 11

Converts ice and snow back to liquid water, melting snow and ice refills water sources

Question 12

Sublimation

Answer 12

Transforms solid straight into gas form
Ice–>vapor

Question 13

Deposition

Answer 13

Transforms water vapor into solid skips liquid phase

Forms ice, snow and glaciers

Question 14

Percolation

Answer 14

The movement of water through soil and rock

Question 15

Carbon Oxygen Cycle

Answer 15

Cycle that transfers carbon through the atmosphere, lithosphere biosphere and hydrosphere

Question 16

Volcanic Eruptions (Carbon)

Answer 16

Releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Question 17

Carbon Sequestration

Answer 17

Storage of carbon dioxide in vegetation

-Plants take in co2 to use in photosynthesis and store within their tissues
-Oceans dissolve co2
-Phytoplankton + other marine organisms take in carbon through photosynthesis
-Co2 + water forms calcium formation of calcium carbonate shells.

Question 18

Cellular respiration

Answer 18

Works with Photosynthesis to act as carbon transfer between organisms

Animals eat the plants to take O2 to power cellular respiration, and release co2 into atmosphere.

Question 19

Photosynthesis

Answer 19

Works with cellular respiration to act as carbon transfer between organisms

Plant cells absorb solar energy, co2, and water and convert them into o2, water and glucose.

Question 20

Decomposition

Answer 20

Decomposers break down complex organic molecules (glucose) into simpler compounds such as co2

Question 21

Fossilization/Unavailable Carbon

Answer 21

Burial and transformation of organic matter into fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas

(Removes carbon from the cycle as it is transformed into fuel—> remain underground until extracted)

Question 22

Combustion of Fossil Fuels

Answer 22

When burned, fossil fuels release large amounts of co2 into the atmosphere

(For energy production, transportation, industrial processes/heating) (Human impact)

Question 23

Weathering and Limestone

Answer 23

Limestone is composed of calcium carbonate CaCO3

reacts with acids in rainwater and soil —》 produces co2 which is released into atmosphere

Question 24

Deforestation and Fires

Answer 24

Vegetation are cut down and burnt or left to decay, the carbon stored in its tissues and cells is released as co2 into the atmosphere

Loss of carbon sinks

Question 25

Carbon sink

Answer 25

Natural systems that absorb and store co2 from the atmosphere

Question 26

Nitrogen

Answer 26

Essential element for living organisms, component of proteins, nucleic acids and organic molecules

Question 27

The nitrogen cycle

Answer 27

Transforms and circulates nitrogen in various forms through earth’s spheres

Question 28

Forms of Nitrogen

Answer 28

Nitrogen gas N2
Ammonium NH4
Nitrate NO3
Nitrite NO2
Ammonia NH3
Nitric Oxide NO
Nitrogen Dioxide NO2

Question 29

Atmospheric nitrogen fixation

Answer 29

Lightning generates energy to separate nitrogen gas intro nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide

-Dissolve in water droplets in clouds to form nitric acid
-Precipitation

Question 30

Assimilation by Plants

Answer 30

Plants and microorganisms take up ammonium NH4+ and nitrate ions from the soil to use in cell processes

process by which inorganic nitrogen compounds are used to form organic nitrogen compounds

Question 31

Consumption

Answer 31

Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals

Question 32

Ammonification

Answer 32

Decomposers break down nitrogen compounds in dead organisms and other organic matter to convert into ammonia or ammonium ions

These simpler forms of nitrogen are released back into the soil

Question 33

Volcanic eruptions (Nitrogen)

Answer 33

Releases nitrogen gas straight into the atmosphere

Heat and pressure from eruptions leads to transformation of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen oxides

Reacts with water vapour to form precipitation

Question 34

Denitrification by bacteria

Answer 34

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate NO3- and nitrite NO2- ions into nitrogen

Nitrogen gas is returned to the atmosphere where it is accessed again by nitrogen fixing bacteria

Question 35

Nitrogen fixation by bacteria

Answer 35

Atmospheric N2 is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen fixing bacteria found in the soil

Question 36

Nitrification

Answer 36

Ammonia (From nitrogen fixation) is converted to nitrite ions by nitrifying bacteria

Nitrite ions are then oxidized intro nitrate ions by other nitrifying bacteria