Aquatic life zones
This depth zone receives enough sunlight to support photosynthesis
Photic zone
This unique ecosystem forms specifically where a river meets the sea
Estuary
Carbon is most commonly found in the atmosphere in this gaseous form
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
This is the term for the evaporation of water from the leaves of plants
Transpiration
This effect traps heat in the atmosphere due to gases like CO2 and methane
Greenhouse effect
These tiny, photosynthetic algae form the base of most aquatic food webs.
Phytoplankton
These tropical estuaries are characterized by salt-tolerant trees found in places like the Everglades
Mangrove swamp
This process by plants takes CO2 out of the atmosphere and converts it into sugar
Photosynthesis
This process occurs when water vapor cools and turns back into liquid droplets to form clouds
Condensation
Coal, oil, and natural gas are known as these; they take millions of years to form
Fossil fuels
This "permanently dark" zone is where food webs rely on falling organic matter or deep-sea vents
Aphotic zone
Near its source, this type of freshwater ecosystem has high oxygen but very little plant life
Rivers and streams
This "double-impact" human activity removes CO2-absorbing trees and releases stored carbon
Deforestation
This term describes water flowing downslope along the Earth's surface rather than soaking in
Runoff
This process of burning fossil fuels releases carbon into the air in just seconds
Combustion
This zone is closest to land and requires organisms to survive both air exposure and wave battering
Intertidal zone
These "nature's filters" purify water and prevent flooding by absorbing large amounts of water.
Freshwater wetlands
In the ocean, carbon combines with calcium to form this, which organisms use to build shells
Calcium carbonate
This phase change occurs when water moves directly from a solid (ice) to a gas (vapor)
Sublimation
Replacing natural landscapes with pavement reduces this process, leading to more urban flooding
Infiltration
Located from the low-tide mark to the continental shelf, this brightly lit area includes kelp forests
Coastal zone
These are the three main types of freshwater wetlands
Bogs, marshes, and swamps
This process involves the long-term storage of carbon as it settles at the bottom of the ocean, eventually forming limestone rock from the remains of shells and bones
Sedimentation
The movement of water through soil and porous or fractured rock
Percolation
These three nutrients often limit how much life an aquatic ecosystem can support
Oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus