Water Cycle
Which stage is not part of the water cycle?
A. Evaporation
B. Decomposition
C. Precipitation
D. Runoff
B. Decomposition
While a part of other cycles, decomposition is not a step in the water cycle. Through transpiration water is absorbed into plants, and then evaporated/released back into the atmosphere. Water is in an constant cycle of changing different forms, but it is not decomposition of any organism.
How are human activities affecting carbon reservoirs?
Due to the burning of ______ _____ it increases the heating of our atmosphere.
Blank: Fossil Fuels
It heats up the atmosphere, and helps to create a larger “insulation/barrier” to keep thermal energy closer to us. As CO2 is released over time, it increases our overall average temperature.
Why do living things need nitrogen?
Nitrogen is needed to build amino acids (the monomers of proteins) and nucleotides (the monomer of nucleic acids), which are needed to store genetic information and carry out most bodily processes (like creating enzymes and transporting materials around the body). Essentially, you couldn't live without nitrogen!
Why is phosphorus necessary for living organisms?
Phosphorus is needed to build nucleotides (the monomer of nucleic acids), which are needed to store genetic information. Also, the attachment/detachment of a third phosphate to/from ADP/ATP stores and releases the energy needed to carry out bodily functions. Essentially, you couldn't live without phosphorus!
What is evaporation, and what form of energy allows runoff water to evaporate into the atmosphere?
Evaporation is the process of turning water (in the form of a liquid) into water vapor through heat. When in a gas state, is it able to release into the atmosphere where it is stored.
How does human activity disrupt the carbon cycle?
Mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels, it has a lathe impact on how our Earth retains heat, as well as CO2 diffuses into our water and oxygen leaving our world more polluted. To add on, the overall increased heat of our atmosphere melts colder regions damaging geography and habitats to many organisms. (Leads to decrease in their population.)
What is nitrogen fixation?
Nitrogen fixation is the process in which nitrogen-fixing bacteria (usually found in the roots of legumes) convert, or "fix", nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonium (NH4+), which can be used by other organisms.
How do living organisms first obtain phosphorus?
Plants and algae first obtain phosphorus by absorbing it from the surrounding soil or water through its roots. Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants or algae that contain phosphorus and decomposers obtain phosphorus by breaking down other organisms that contain phosphorus.
Fill in the blanks on this diagram:
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1ORMBWC2dAo0dOxz8wKO_Qv72a0Opzmb0GQ9JC3-KvJU/edit?usp=sharing
1. Runoff
2. Evaporation
3. Condensation
4. Transpiration
How are the carbon cycle and climate change related?
The buildup of greenhouse gasses (as stated prior) creates a larger ozone layer that retains heat within our atmosphere. This leads to overall temperature increase, harmful air and water, higher wildlife extinction rates, more frequent severe weather cases, and overall death if the CO2 levels rise too high.
How are algal blooms related to nitrogen cycle disruptions?
Humans often disrupt the nitrogen cycle by adding nitrogen-packed fertilizer to the soil so that plants can grow quickly. When this extra nitrogen enters a large body of water through runoff, the algae in that body of water will be able to grow extremely quickly due to a large amount of nitrogen available, creating an algal bloom.
How do humans disrupt the phosphorus cycle?
Humans disrupt the phosphorus cycle in 3 main ways: releasing waste from sewage treatment into bodies of water, mining for phosphate, and using phosphate-dense fertilizers. All of these practices add phosphate to an ecosystem, throwing off the cycle.
Which stage of the water is not a physical/chemical process? What type of process is it instead?
Transpiration is a biological process, not a chemical/physical process. It is the loss of water vapor from the stems and leaves of plants as some of it is absorbed into the roots. This is the plants natural process of retaining water rather than a physcial process such as runoff (where the water moves to a larger body of water to be stored.)
What are 2 things you can do on a daily basis that will result in less carbon being released into our atmosphere? (Choose 2)
A. Reduce your purchase/use of single-use plastic products.
B. Walk instead of riding your bike.
C. Cut down trees for a natural source of heat.
D. Solar energy/shut off the lights after you leave the room.
Correct answers:
A.
D.
What can farmers do besides using fertilizers to ensure that their crops are getting enough nitrogen to thrive?
Farmers can plant legumes in their fields because their roots host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. With more legumes, there are more of these bacteria and more unusable nitrogen gas can be converted into useful ammonium, allowing plants to get the nitrogen that they need to thrive.
What makes the phosphorus cycle different from the other biogeochemical cycles?
The phosphorus cycle is different from the other biogeochemical cycles because it is the only cycle that does not involve a nutrient cycling through the atmosphere. Also, it is the only nutrient that can be stored as hard, mineable rock.
How could human activity disrupt this cycle? What are the effects?
Due to the building of dams, water is diverted from its original river path to a larger body of water. Furthermore, due to global warming the Earth as a whole is retaining more heat leading to unusual evaporation cycles.
Fill in the blanks on this diagram:
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1BF0ZCT9VeNyxqi9v8QZUwExotartWthoOhcUaq-6kwg/edit
1. Photosynthesis
2. Respiration
3. Decomposition
4. Combustion
Match the process to the type of cycle:
Lightning, Denitrification, Industrial Manufacturing
Biological, Human, Physical
Denitrification is a biological pathway because it requires living bacteria to convert ammonium (NH4+) back into nitrogen gas (N2). Lightning is a physical pathway because a non-living force of nature found in the atmosphere splits apart N2 into individual nitrogen atoms. Industrial manufacturing is a human pathway because nitrogen compounds are released into the atmosphere in amounts that normally wouldn't be released in nature.
Fill in the blanks on this diagram:
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1M7EhXgMiHzMnLqf4tEj6G2BR7ecQhNhPd-vbY_UQHVk/edit?usp=sharing
1 - Animals
2 - Plants
3 - Decomposers
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1g8WgTt02FjUcvenUiVd5ZJb9NaIgEZLTWwtO8QiuwgM/edit?usp=sharing