topic 1 global systems

Question 1

What is the Carbon cycle?

Answer 1

The cycle that transferers carbon through the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere

Question 2

Volcanic eruptions

Answer 2

Release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 3

Carbon sequestration

Answer 3

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.
On land, plats take in carbon dioxide to use in photosynthesis and store within there tissues (cells)

Question 4

Cellular respiration

Answer 4

• Animals eat the plants and take in the O2 to power cellular respiration, and then release CO2 into the atmosphere.
• Works with photosynthesis to act as carbon transfer between organisms.

Question 5

Photosynthesis

Answer 5

• Plants cells absorb solar energy, carbon dioxide and water and convert them into oxygen water and glucose (energy)
• Works with cellular respiration at act as a carbon transfer between two organisms

Question 6

Decomposition

Answer 6

• When organisms die, their organic matter becomes available for decomposition by decomposers.
• Decomposers break down complex organic molecules (like glucose) into simpler compounds (such and CO2)

Question 7

Fossilization

Answer 7

• Involves the burial and transformation of organic matter into fossils fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
• Removes carbon from the cycle as it transformed into fossil fuels.
• Once fossil fuels are formed, they remain underground until extracted.

Question 8

Unavailable carbon

Answer 8

• 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.

Question 9

Combustion of fossil fuel

Answer 9

• When burned fossil fuels release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
• Fossil fuels are burned for energy transportation, industrial processes, and heating.
• Not part of natural carbon cycle (human impact)

Question 10

Limestone weathering

Answer 10

• Limestone is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
• Calcium carbonate reacts with acids found in rainwater and soil produces CO2 which is released into the atmosphere.

Question 11

Deforestation and fires

Answer 11

• When trees vegetation is cut down, burned or left to decay, the carbon stored in their tissues and cells released into the atmosphere as CO2
• Also results in the loss of carbon sinks.

Question 12

Nitrogen cycle

Answer 12

Nitrogen is as 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 earths spheres.

Question 13

Atmospheric Nitrogen fixation

Answer 13

Lightning strikes generate enough energy to separate nitrogen gas into nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Theses smaller molecules dissolve in water droplets in clouds – foring nitric acid.
*Nitric acid is transported to the earth’s surface though precipitation.

Question 14

Assimilation of nitrates, nitrates, and ammonia by plants

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Consumption

Answer 15

Animals acquire organic nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals.

Question 16

Ammonification

Answer 16

• Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down nitrogen compounds found in dead organisms and other organic matter.
• Converts them to ammonia or ammonium ions.
• These simpler forms of nitrogen are released back into the soil.

Question 17

Volcanic eruptions

Answer 17

• 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 vapor to form precipitation.