Which statement best defines a biogeochemical cycle?
A. Movement of energy through food chains only
B. Recycling of chemical elements between living organisms and the environment
C. Transfer of heat between Earth's spheres
D. Distribution of species across habitats
B. Recycling of chemical elements between living organisms and the environment
In the water cycle, which process moves water vapor from plants into the atmosphere?
A. Evaporation
B. Condensation
C. Transpiration
D. Infiltration
C. Transpiration
the process of changing nitrogen gas in the air into a form plants can us
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Fixation
The process by which organisms release energy from food, giving off carbon dioxide
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Biogeochemical Cycle
Reservoir
Conservation of Matter
Respiration
The law of conservation of matter means:
A. Matter can be created but not destroyed
B. Matter can be destroyed but not created
C. Matter is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes form or location
D. Matter always stays in the atmosphere
C. Matter is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes form or location
Which process directly removes CO2 from the atmosphere?
A. Respiration
B. Photosynthesis
C. Combustion
D. Erosion
B. Photosynthesis
all living organisms on Earth
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
Biosphere
the movement of matter (like water, carbon, or nitrogen) through living and nonliving parts of Earth
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Biogeochemical Cycle
Reservoir
Conservation of Matter
Biogeochemical Cycle
Which is NOT one of Earth's major "spheres" used to describe reservoirs in biogeochemical cycles?
A. Photosphere
B. Lithosphere
C. Atmosphere
D. Hydrosphere
A. Photosphere
Which pair lists a short residence-time reservoir and a long residence-time reservoir for water, respectively?
A. Groundwater — Clouds
B. Atmosphere — Deep ocean
C. Rivers — Clouds
D. Glaciers — Rivers
B. Atmosphere — Deep ocean
the solid outer layer of Earth (rocks and soil)
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
lithosphere
the process plants use to turn sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Biogeochemical Cycle
Reservoir
Conservation of Matter
Photosynthesis
Which reservoir is correctly matched with the Earth sphere it mainly represents?
A. Soil — Atmosphere
B. Ocean — Hydrosphere
C. Rock layers (bedrock) — Biosphere
D. Clouds — Lithosphere
B. Ocean — Hydrosphere
Which process is NOT a main part of the carbon cycle?
A. Photosynthesis
B. Respiration
C. Nitrification
D. Combustion
D. Combustion
all the water on Earth (liquid, solid, and gas)
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
Hydrosphere
a place where matter is stored (such as the ocean, atmosphere, or soil)
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Biogeochemical Cycle
Reservoir
Conservation of Matter
Reservoir
Residence time of water in a reservoir refers to:
A. The speed at which water evaporates from that reservoir
B. The average time a water molecule spends in that reservoir before moving to another
C. The total volume of water stored in the reservoir
D. How often humans extract water from the reservoir
B. The average time a water molecule spends in that reservoir before moving to another
What happens to Earth’s average temperature if greenhouse gas concentrations increase and trap more outgoing infrared radiation?
A. Temperature stays the same
B. Temperature decreases
C. Temperature increases
D. Temperature becomes unpredictable but always lower
C. Temperature increases
the layer of gases surrounding Earth
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
Atmosphere
the idea that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only changed or moved
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Biogeochemical Cycle
Reservoir
Conservation of Matter
Conservation of Matter