Environmental cycles Flashcards
1
Q
The water cycle
A
The cycling of water through the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
- Driven by solar energy
2
Q
Transpiration
A
- Water is absorbed by plants from the soil through their roots
- The water travels up the stem of the plant to the leaves
- The water is released into the atmosphere through stomata
3
Q
Condensation
A
Cooling of water vapor (gas) in atmosphere
Water vapor condenses into water droplets (liquid) – forming clouds
4
Q
Precipitation
A
- Water drops formed by condensation fall to earth
- Can fall as rain, snow or hail
5
Q
Surface run-off
A
- Refers to the movement of water over the land surface
- Runoff ends in streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans
- Can transport sediment, nutrients and pollutants to other areas
6
Q
Infiltration
A
- Precipitation that falls onto land can soak into the soil, refilling groundwater sources
7
Q
Groundwater flow
A
- Water that infiltrates into the soil becomes groundwater, which slowly moves through underground aquifers
8
Q
Evaporation
A
- The sun heats bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, and rivers
- Causes water to change from liquid to water vapour (gas) and rise into the atmosphere
9
Q
Freezing
A
- Freezing converts water from the liquid state to the solid state
- Acts as water storage
- Water is removed from cycle until melted
10
Q
Melting
A
- Converts ice and snow back into liquid water
- After melting, snow and ice refills rivers, lakes, and oceans
11
Q
Sublimination
A
- Transforms a solid straight into to a gas (skips liquid phase)
- Ice -> water vapor
12
Q
Deposition
A
- Transforms water vapor (gas) to ice (solid) – skips liquid phase
- Forms ice, snow and glaciers
13
Q
Percolation
A
- The movement of water through soil and rock
14
Q
Carbon cycle
A
- The cycle that transfers carbon through the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere
15
Q
Volcanic Eruptions
A
- Release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
16
Q
Carbon Sequestration
A
- On land, plants take in carbon dioxide to use in photosynthesis and store within their tissues (cells)
- In the ocean, phytoplankton and other marine organisms take in carbon through photosynthesis
- Oceans also dissolve carbon dioxide
- CO2 combines with the water and forms calcium formation of calcium carbonate shells
17
Q
Cellular Respiration
A
- Animals eat the plants and take in O2 to power cellular respiration, and then release CO2 into the atmosphere
- Works with photosynthesis to act as carbon transfer between organisms
18
Q
Photosynthesis
A
- Plant cells absorb solar energy, carbon dioxide and water and convert them into oxygen, water and glucose (energy)
- Works with cellular respiration to act as carbon transfer between organisms
19
Q
Decomposition
A
- When organisms die, their organic matter becomes available for decomposition by decomposers
- Decomposers break down complex organic molecules (like glucose) into simpler compounds (such as CO2)
20
Q
Fossilisation and Unavailable Carbon
A
- Involves the burial and transformation of organic matter into fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas
- Removes carbon from the cycle as it is transformed into fossil fuels
- Once fossil fuels are formed, they remain underground until extracted
21
Q
Combustion of Fossil Fuels
A
- When burned, fossil fuels release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
- Fossil fuels are burned for energy production, transportation, industrial processes, and heating
- Not part of natural carbon cycle (human impact)
22
Q
Deforestation and Fires
A
- When trees and vegetation are cut down, burned or left to decay, the carbon stored in their tissues and cells is released into the atmosphere as CO2
- Also results in the loss of carbon sinks
23
Q
Nitrogen cycle
A
- Nitrogen is an essential element for living organisms, as it is a component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other organic molecules
- The nitrogen cycle transforms and circulates nitrogen in various forms through Earth’s spheres
24
Q
Atmospheric Nitrogen fixation
A
- Lightning strikes generate enough energy to separate nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3)
- Ammonia is dissolved in rain, carrying the molecule to Earth’s surface
- Bacteria in soil convert ammonia into nitric acid
25
Q
ASSIMILATION OF NITRITES, NITRATES AND AMMONIA BY PLANTS
A
- Plants and some microorganisms take up ammonia from the soil to use in cell processes
26
Q
consumption
A
Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals
27
Q
Ammonification
A
- Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down nitrogen compounds found in dead organisms and other organic matter
- Converts them back to ammonia or ammonium ions
- These more simple forms of nitrogen are released back into the soil
28
Q
Volcanic Eruptions
A
- Volcanic eruptions release nitrogen gas straight into the atmosphere
- Heat and pressure created by eruptions leads to transformation of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen oxides
- Reacts with water vapour to form precipitation
29
Q
denitrification by bacteria
A
- Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) ions into nitrogen gas
- Nitrogen gas is returned to the atmosphere, where it can be accessed again by nitrogen-fixing bacteria
30
Q
nitrogen fixation by bacteria
A
- Atmospheric N2 is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the soil
31
Q
nitrogen fixation
A
- Atmospheric N2 is converted into ammonia or ammonium ions by nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the soil
32
Q
Aquifer
A
- a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.
