The series of processes that continually move carbon among Earth systems.

A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

Organic material from plants and animals that can be used as a renewable energy source.

Any location on Earth where carbon is stored, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, vegetation, and fossil fuels. Also called a "carbon sink".

Earth's rigid, outermost layer of rock and minerals. It includes the crust and the upper mantle.

The process by which rocks and minerals break down through chemical reactions.

An organism that cannot make its own food and gets energy by eating other organisms.

An organism that uses an outside energy source, such as the Sun and produces its own food.

A thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions.

The series of processes that move phosphorus among Earth systems.

Natural or artificial substance containing the chemical elements that improve growth and productiveness of plants.

A rapid increase in the algae population of freshwater or marine water systems.

The process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter.

The process by which the Earth's surface rises due to natural causes.

The process of extracting phosphate rock from the earth to create fertilizer.

The process of removing waste products and excess water from the body.

The series of processes that move nitrogen among Earth systems.

The process where nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into ammonia, by bacteria in the soil, making it accessible to plants and other organisms in the ecosystem.

The natural way of removing nitrogen from the air, through the energy of lightning.

A process that converts ammonia into nitrate .

The process by which nitrogen from dead organisms is converted into ammonia.

A process that converts nitrogen in soil or water into nitrogen gas, which is then released into the atmosphere.

The process in which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to the plentiful growth of simple plant life.

The process where primary producers and consumers incorporate inorganic nutrients into organic molecules like proteins, amino acids, and DNA.

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Unit 6 Vocabulary

Unit 6 Earth's Cycles Vocabulary

Term	Definition
Carbon Cycle	The series of processes that continually move carbon among Earth systems.
Fossil Fuels	A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
Biomass	Organic material from plants and animals that can be used as a renewable energy source.
Carbon Reservoir	Any location on Earth where carbon is stored, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, vegetation, and fossil fuels. Also called a "carbon sink".
Lithosphere	Earth's rigid, outermost layer of rock and minerals. It includes the crust and the upper mantle.
Chemical Weathering	The process by which rocks and minerals break down through chemical reactions.
Consumer	An organism that cannot make its own food and gets energy by eating other organisms.
Producer	An organism that uses an outside energy source, such as the Sun and produces its own food.
Permafrost	A thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions.
Phosphorus Cycle	The series of processes that move phosphorus among Earth systems.
Fertilizer	Natural or artificial substance containing the chemical elements that improve growth and productiveness of plants.
Algal Bloom	A rapid increase in the algae population of freshwater or marine water systems.
Decomposition	The process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter.
Geologic Uplift	The process by which the Earth's surface rises due to natural causes.
Phosphate Mining	The process of extracting phosphate rock from the earth to create fertilizer.
Excretion	The process of removing waste products and excess water from the body.
Nitrogen Cycle	The series of processes that move nitrogen among Earth systems.
Nitrogen Fixation	The process where nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into ammonia, by bacteria in the soil, making it accessible to plants and other organisms in the ecosystem.
Atmospheric Fixation	The natural way of removing nitrogen from the air, through the energy of lightning.
Nitrification	A process that converts ammonia into nitrate .
Ammonification	The process by which nitrogen from dead organisms is converted into ammonia.
Denitrification	A process that converts nitrogen in soil or water into nitrogen gas, which is then released into the atmosphere.
Eutrophication	The process in which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to the plentiful growth of simple plant life.
Assimilation	The process where primary producers and consumers incorporate inorganic nutrients into organic molecules like proteins, amino acids, and DNA.

Created by: RWare

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