An element found in all living things, important for forming molecules like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

All the water on Earth—this includes oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and even water underground and in the air.

The layer of gases that surrounds Earth. It includes the air we breathe and helps protect us from the sun’s harmful rays.

The solid parts of Earth, like rocks, mountains, soil, and the land beneath our feet.

All the living things on Earth—plants, animals, and people—and the places where they live.

A community of living things, like plants and animals, and their environment, all working together and depending on each other.

The way materials like water, carbon, and nitrogen move through living things and the environment, getting reused over and over.

How energy moves through an ecosystem, starting with the sun, then going to plants, then to animals that eat the plants, and then as escaping heat.

A system where matter doesn’t enter or leave, but energy can still move in and out. Earth is almost a closed system for matter.

biogeochemical cycles

Natural processes that move important materials like water, carbon, and nitrogen through the Earth’s systems (air, water, land, and living things).

How water moves through the environment. It includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and more.

When water soaks into the ground and becomes part of the underground water supply.

When plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves.

Water that flows over the ground and into rivers, lakes, or oceans after rain or snow melts.

The way carbon moves through the Earth, air, water, and living things. It includes processes like breathing, burning, and decay.

A gas that we breathe out and that is also released when things burn. Too much of it in the atmosphere can lead to climate change.

Carbon-based molecules

The building blocks of life. They are made mostly of carbon and include things like sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA.

Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make food. They take in sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make sugar and oxygen.

How cells break down food to get energy. It uses oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide.

The process of breaking down dead plants and animals. It returns nutrients to the soil and releases carbon into the air.

When the ocean absorbs too much carbon dioxide, making the water more acidic and harming sea life.

Fossil fuel combustion

The burning of coal, oil, or gas for energy. It releases carbon dioxide into the air and adds to global warming.

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ES 2-6: Earth System

Carbon cycle: interacting Earth systems

Term	Definition
carbon	An element found in all living things, important for forming molecules like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
hydrosphere	All the water on Earth—this includes oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and even water underground and in the air.
atmosphere	The layer of gases that surrounds Earth. It includes the air we breathe and helps protect us from the sun’s harmful rays.
geosphere	The solid parts of Earth, like rocks, mountains, soil, and the land beneath our feet.
biosphere	All the living things on Earth—plants, animals, and people—and the places where they live.
ecosystem	A community of living things, like plants and animals, and their environment, all working together and depending on each other.
Cycling of matter	The way materials like water, carbon, and nitrogen move through living things and the environment, getting reused over and over.
Flow of energy	How energy moves through an ecosystem, starting with the sun, then going to plants, then to animals that eat the plants, and then as escaping heat.
Closed system	A system where matter doesn’t enter or leave, but energy can still move in and out. Earth is almost a closed system for matter.
biogeochemical cycles	Natural processes that move important materials like water, carbon, and nitrogen through the Earth’s systems (air, water, land, and living things).
Water cycle	How water moves through the environment. It includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and more.
Infiltration	When water soaks into the ground and becomes part of the underground water supply.
transpiration	When plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves.
runoff	Water that flows over the ground and into rivers, lakes, or oceans after rain or snow melts.
carbon cycle	The way carbon moves through the Earth, air, water, and living things. It includes processes like breathing, burning, and decay.
Carbon dioxide	A gas that we breathe out and that is also released when things burn. Too much of it in the atmosphere can lead to climate change.
Carbon-based molecules	The building blocks of life. They are made mostly of carbon and include things like sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA.
Photosynthesis	Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make food. They take in sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make sugar and oxygen.
Respiration	How cells break down food to get energy. It uses oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide.
Decomposition	The process of breaking down dead plants and animals. It returns nutrients to the soil and releases carbon into the air.
Ocean acidification	When the ocean absorbs too much carbon dioxide, making the water more acidic and harming sea life.
Fossil fuel combustion	The burning of coal, oil, or gas for energy. It releases carbon dioxide into the air and adds to global warming.

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