Carbon Cycle
A carbon reservoir that stores more carbon than it releases (ocean, plants, soil)
Nitrogen Fixation is...
the process of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) being converted into ammonia (NH3) underground by bacteria that live in soil or plant roots nodules
Phosphorus sources include (3)...
weathering of rocks, synthetic fertilizers, and detergents/cleaners
What drives the water cycle?
Sun, solar energy
What are some common carbon sources? (3)
Fossil fuel combustion, animal agriculture, deforestation
Nitrification is...
the process of bacteria converting ammonia (NH3) into nitrite (NO2) or nitrate (NO3)
The two main components of the phosphorus cycle include...
Assimilation ---> Excretion/Decomposition
Basic run-through of the water cycle
precipitation --> runoff --> infiltration --> transpiration --> evaporation --> condensation
Photosynthesis is to this ____ as Cellular Respiration is to this ______
CO2 sink, CO2 source
Denitrification is...
the process of bacteria converting nitrite (NO2) or nitrate (NO3) back into atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2)
Negative impact of excess phosphorus (hint positive feedback look)
Eutrophication
What is evapotranspiration?
The total amount of water that enters the atmosphere from transpiration and evaporation combined
The process of CO2 moving directly between the atmosphere and the ocean through dissolving in and out of surface water
Assimilation is...
The process of nitrite (NO2) or nitrate (NO3) being taken in by plants and animals for consumption
Largest reservoir of water
Ocean
The slow, time-consuming process of carbon-containing sediments being compressed on the ocean floor into underground sinks such as fossil fuels or sedimentary rock
Ammonification is....
the process of plants or animals decomposing and bacteria converting leftover waste back into ammonia (NH3) to repeat the cycle
2 reservoirs of phosphorus include...
Plants and soil (bacteria)
Negative effect of runoff
Surface runoff may pick up pollutants and transport them to other water sources