nutrient cycle Flashcards
respiration
release of carbon dioxide
erosion
process breaks down rock making phosphorus available in soil for plants
fossil fuels
a form of carbon made from dead animals and plants that is stored deep underground
nitrogen fixation
process that makes nitrogen available for plants (aided by bacteria)
evaporation
the process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas
run-off
water (usually from rain) that flows over a land surface in streams and water ways
transpiration
process where water leaves the leaves of plants and goes direction into the atmosphere (“plant sweat”)
carbon cycle
the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back
nitrogen cycle
the transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere
water cycle
the continuous process by which water moves from earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back
decomposition
decaying caused by bacterial or fungal action
denitrification
process by which bacteria convert nitrates in soil into nitrogen gas
combustion
the burning of carbon based molecules that released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
condensation
a process that turns gaseous water into the atmosphere into liquid water in clouds
precipitation
when water released from clouds in the form is rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail
