week 3 material

Question 1

What is an Environmental Cycle?

Answer 1

Environmental Cycle is the
(a)biological recycling of an element,
molecule or substance between
compartments (e.g., atmosphere, ocean,
land) of the Earth over space and time.

Question 2

What are compartments in Biogeochemical Cycles?

Answer 2

Sources and sinks

Question 3

What are the compartments in Nitrogen Cycles?

Answer 3

Atmosphere, lakes, algae

Question 4

What are the Element forms in Nitrogen Cycles?

Answer 4

• Gas: N2
• Dissolved: Nitrate (NO3-)
• Rocks and minerals: ??

Question 5

What are the Processes that change the

form/compartment in the Nitrogen Cycling?

Answer 5

• Biological fixation

* Reduction and oxidation

Question 6

What is pollution?

Answer 6

A human-induced change in the distribution of atoms from one place on Earth to another, i.e., humans perturbing a natural environmental cycle

Question 7

what is Remediation?

Answer 7

bringing an
environmental cycle back
into balance