Carbon Cycle
This process converts CO₂ into glucose using sunlight.
What is photosynthesis?
This cycle is unique because it has no ______ reservoir.
What is atmospheric?
This substance makes up the largest nitrogen reservoir.
What is the atmosphere?
The sun powers this entire cycle.
What is the hydrologic (water) cycle?
The movement of matter between sources and sinks.
What is a biogeochemical cycle?
Burning fossil fuels releases this gas into the atmosphere.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
The largest reservoirs for phosphorus are these two materials.
What is rock and sediment?
The process that turns N₂ gas into ammonia (NH₃) usable by plants.
What is nitrogen fixation?
Plants release water vapor through this process.
What is transpiration?
A place where a nutrient is stored for long or short periods.
What is a reservoir?
These organisms return carbon to the atmosphere by breaking down dead matter.
What are decomposers?
Rain breaking down rock and releasing phosphate is called this.
What is weathering
This step converts ammonia → nitrite → nitrate.
What is nitrification?
When water soaks into the ground, it is called this.
What is infiltration?
This term describes the nutrient that is least available and limits growth—often phosphorus.
Carbon stored in sediments for millions of years can eventually become this energy source.
What are fossil fuels?
This human activity speeds up the movement of phosphorus into ecosystems.
This process turns nitrates back into N₂ gas, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.
Water vapor turning back into liquid water forms clouds during this process.
What is condensation?
CO₂ dissolved into ocean water is part of this carbon process.
What is exchange or dissolution?
This long-term geological process traps carbon in rock like limestone.
What is sedimentation?
This natural process forms mountains and exposes phosphorus-rich rock.
What is geologic uplift?
Decomposers perform this process, turning organic nitrogen into ammonia.
what is ammonification?
The largest reservoir of water on Earth.
What is the ocean?
The combination of evaporation and transpiration.
What is evaportranspiration?