Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Hydrologic
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Carbon's Importance to Life | Regulates Earth climate by cycling CO2 (GHG) between ATM, ocean, and supporting photosynthesis. The backbone of all organic molecules (sugar, protein, DNA) |
| Nitrogen's Importance to Life | Micro-organisms drive the conversion of the gaseous into usable forms for plant growth. Essential for all amino acids (proteins) and nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) |
| Phosphorus' Importance to Life | Primary production can cause harmful Algae Blooms. Key component of DNA, RNA, cell membrane. From rocks/sediments into soil |
| Water's Importance to Life | Essential for all biological processes, transporting nutrients, and maintaining cell structure. Shapes landscapes, influences climate, and moves elements |
| Carbon's Largest Reservoir | Ocean, sedimentary rocks, and F.F. Forest |
| Nitrogen's Largest Reservoir | Atmosphere |
| Phosphorus' Largest Reservoir | Lithosphere, rocks, and marine sediments |
| Water's Largest Reservoir | Ocean |
| Carbons's Methods of Transport | Physical: ocean currents, atm, volcanic activity Chemical: weathering or rocks Biological: photosynthesis (uptake), respiration (release), decomposition, consumption |
| Nitrogen's Methods of Transport | Physical: Atmospheric deposition (lighting) Chemical/Biological: Nitrogen fixation (bacteria), nitrification, denitrification, ammonificatoin (decomposition), uptake by plats, consumption |
| Phosphorus' Methods of Transport | Physical/Chemical: weathering of rocks releases phosphate erosion, sedimentation Biological: Uptake by plais consumption decaying waste |
| Water's Methods of Transport | Physical: Evaportation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration Biological: Transpiration |
| Carbon's Cycle Duration | fast (biological) - hours to years ATM -> bio slow (geological) 100-200MY |
| Nitrogen's Cycle Duration | fast/short - days to years through organisms long- stored in soil and sediment |
| Phosphorus' Cycle Duration | Long- very slow due to sedimentation Short - soil to plants |
| Water's Cycle Duration | Fast- days to week or so Slow- deep ocean, millions of yrs, geologic slow |
| Does Carbon Enter the Atmosphere? | Yes |
| Does Nitrogen Enter the Atmosphere? | Yes |
| Does Phosphorus Enter the Atmosphere? | No |
| Does Water Enter the Atmosphere? | Yes |
| Unique Characteristics to the Carbon Cycle: | -central to life and climate -rapid biological exchange photosynthesis-respiration -slow geological storage (rocks, fossil fuels) |
| Unique Characteristics to the Nitrogen Cycle: | Atmosphere N2 (unusable) must be fixed by bacteria into ammonia then nitrate Crucial for proteins/ nucleic acids Heavily influenced by microbes |
| Unique Characteristics to the Phosphorus Cycle: | -slowest -no ATM component -relies on rock weathering -limiting nutrient for plants -key for ATP, DNA |
| Unique Characteristics to the Water Cycle: | Driven solely by solar energy Moves water(liqiod/solid/gas) between ATM, land, oceans -fast exchange |
| Carbon Cycle Specific Vocab: | Carbon: An essential element found in all living things; it moves through the atmosphere, organisms, oceans, and rocks. Photosynthesis: Process where plants take in CO₂ and convert it into glucose using sunlight. |
| Carbon Cycle Specific Vocab: | Respiration: Process where organisms break down glucose and release CO₂ back into the atmosphere. Combustion: Burning of fossil fuels or biomass that releases CO₂ into the air. |
| Nitrogen Cycle Specific Vocab: | Ammonification: Decomposers convert organic nitrogen from dead organisms/waste into ammonia. Denitrification: Bacteria convert nitrates back into atmospheric N₂, completing the cycle. |
| Nitrogen Cycle Specific Vocab: | Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of atmospheric N₂ into ammonia (NH₃) by bacteria or lightning. Nitrification: Process where bacteria convert ammonia into nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then nitrates (NO₃⁻). |
| Phosphorus Cycle Specific Vocab: | Weathering/Erosion: Rocks containing phosphorus break down, releasing phosphate into soil and water. Assimilation/Uptake: Plants absorb phosphate from soil; animals obtain it by eating plants. |
| Phosphorus Cycle Specific Vocab: | Sedimentation: Phosphates settle in bodies of water and form new rock layers over time. |
| Water Cycle Specific Vocab: | Evaporation: Liquid water turns into water vapor due to heat. Transpiration: Water vapor released from plant leaves into the atmosphere. Condensation: Water vapor cools and forms liquid droplets (clouds). |
| Water Cycle Specific Vocab: | Precipitation: Water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Infiltration: Water soaks into the ground and enters soil or groundwater. Runoff: Water flows over land into rivers, lakes, and oceans. |
| Nitrogen Cycle Specific Vocab: | Assimilation: When plants absorb nitrates from the soil and use them to build proteins/DNA. |
| Carbon Cycle Specific Vocab: | Decomposition: Breakdown of dead organisms by decomposers, releasing carbon into soil and atmosphere. Fossil Fuels: Carbon-rich energy sources (coal, oil, natural gas) formed from compressed remains of ancient organisms. |
| Which of the following is NOT a primary depository for phosphorus? | Marble and limestone |
| What increases the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere? | Burning fossil fuels coupled with deforestation |
| What do cyanobacteria and Rhizobium bacteria convert into ammonia (NH₃) in the nitrogen fixation cycle? | Nitrogen and hydrogen gas |
| Which cycle has the most immediate effect on acid precipitation? | Sulfur cycle |
| In what form is nitrogen assimilated in plants? | Nitrate (NO₃⁻) |
| In what form do plants primarily assimilate sulfur? | Sulfates (SO₄²⁻) |
| How do humans increase sulfur in the atmosphere? | All of the following EXCEPT clear-cutting |
| How is phosphorus added to the environment? | All EXCEPT animal manure and guano |
| In which process is carbon dioxide a reactant? | Photosynthesis |
| How does human activity add significant amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere? | All EXCEPT agricultural runoff |
| What does clearing land for habitation or agriculture NOT do? | Increase infiltration |
| What impacts the nitrogen cycle? | All EXCEPT the application of inorganic fertilizers to the soil |
| What macronutrient is essential for protein formation? | Nitrogen |
| Which bacteria convert soil nitrites to nitrates? | Nitrobacter |
| Which of the following cycles is considered sedimentary? | Phosphorus cycle |
| Which cycle is most common to all other cycles? | Hydrologic (water) cycle |
| What primarily drives the hydrologic cycle? | Solar energy and gravity |
| What process works against gravity? | Transpiration |
| What process converts ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) to nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻)? | Nitrification |
| What form of nitrogen is most usable by plants? | Nitrate (NO₃⁻) |
Created by:
user-1996431