Carbon Cycle:
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
Carbon exist in the atmosphere, because of phytosynthesis and then resparation.
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
Fossil fuels are created when the plants and animal die, and are buried underground for millions of years.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
The carbon enters the atmosphere by pyhtosynthesis and respartation.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
The oceans are involved in the carbon cycle, because they soak up some carbon from the atmosphere.
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
The temperature of the Earth is partly controlled by carbon, because the greenhouse gas traps the heat in the atmosphere.
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
The role of the rocks in the carbon cycle, by adding carbon to surface water that goes to the ocean.
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon cycle game. You are a carbon atom!
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
I started as a fossil fuel underground.
“Click to begin your journey”
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
The atmosphere is made up of 0.04% of carbon dioxide.
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
The CO2 increased in the atmosphere by 30% in the past 150 years.
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = ___Surface Ocean________
What did you learn?
"The ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than the land does." "The surface ocean takes in approximately 90 Gigatons of carbon per year."
12. Next stop = _____Deep Ocean___________
What did you learn?
"The deep ocean gets carbon from circulation with the surface ocean and from dead, decaying marine organisms/life." "Carbon stays in the deep ocean for hundreds of years, before moving on. "The deep ocean holds more than 65% of the earth's carbon."
The deep ocean accounts for more than __65___ % of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
The surface ocean takes in 90 gigaton of carbon per year.
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
False, they bring carbon into the ocean.
13. Next stop = _____Marine Life____________
What did you learn?
"Marine life can not survive without carbon." "Too much carbon in the ocean is also bad for the marine animals like corals and algae." "Marine organisms need to take in carbon to make nutrition for photosynthesis."
14. Next stop = _______Land Plants_____________
What did you learn?
"When there is more carbon dioxide in the air, plants will grow faster." "Plants release carbon back to the atmosphere by respiration."
15. Next stop = ______Soils_____________
What did you learn?
"Detritus is decomposing plants and animals." "Soil is made of inorganic parts like sand, clay, and silt." "Soil stores 3% of earth's carbon." "As bacteria and fungi breakdown the detritus, carbon is sent into the atmosphere."
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
______Hundreds of years_________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon
dioxide as they grow.
True
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
True
Nitrogen Cycle:
Go to http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html and answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
The two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen are nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
The two compounds of nitrogen combined with oxygen is nitrogen oxide.
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
Nitric acid forms usually forms when nitrogen dioxide reacts with water in rain.
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Nitric acid is important because it can be used a nutrients for the plants.
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
The air is 79% nitrogen.
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen (N2) found in the air. Why not?
Most plants do not use nitrogen found in the air, because their nitrogen must be in a "fixed form."
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
Plants can use nitrogen in forms of nitrate ions, ammonium ions, and urea.
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
Animals get nitrogen they need by eating other animals or plants.
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the process of breaking up N2.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
"Atmospheric fixation is a huge energy of lightning breaks nitrogen and allows their atoms to combine with oxygen in the air forming nitrogen oxides."
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
" Industrial Fixation is the use of a catalyst, atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen combined to form ammonia (NH3)."
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated with the symbiotic relationship.)
"Biological fixation is the ability to fix nitrogen is found only in certain bacteria and archaea such as in soybeans, alders, and alfalfa."
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Nitrogen is needed by both plants and animals because they need nitrogen-compounds, e.g., proteins and nucleic acids.
Water Cycle:
1. Define "water cycle".
Water cycle is part of precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water?
The earth's surface is covered with 3/4 of water.
3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land animals?
There is about only 3% of fresh water we and animals can use.
1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its ___liquid_______ state to a
____gaseous_______ state.
2. Why is evaporated water so clean?
Evaporated water is clean, because during the process the impurities are left behind.
3. Condensation occurs when a _____gas_______ is changed into a ____liquid______.
4. Condensation is the opposite of ___evaporation_________.
5. When the ________temperature________ and ______atmospheric_____________ are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration: This is a process where plants absorb water from the soil, and the water moves from the roots to the stem to the leaves. Then it evaporates from the leaves.
7. Define percolation: This is a process of filtering a fluid.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
Evaporation is a process of liquid like water disappearing into a gas form.
Condensation is a process where the water of gas form changes into the liquid form.
Precipitation is when the temperature and atmosphere pressure is at a certain level and the clouds let out droplets of rain.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas?
The most important factor in determining a water's form by the temperature.
3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
The earth's amount of water remains a constant amount.
Carbon exist in the atmosphere, because of phytosynthesis and then resparation.
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
Fossil fuels are created when the plants and animal die, and are buried underground for millions of years.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
The carbon enters the atmosphere by pyhtosynthesis and respartation.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
The oceans are involved in the carbon cycle, because they soak up some carbon from the atmosphere.
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
The temperature of the Earth is partly controlled by carbon, because the greenhouse gas traps the heat in the atmosphere.
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
The role of the rocks in the carbon cycle, by adding carbon to surface water that goes to the ocean.
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon cycle game. You are a carbon atom!
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
I started as a fossil fuel underground.
“Click to begin your journey”
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
The atmosphere is made up of 0.04% of carbon dioxide.
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
The CO2 increased in the atmosphere by 30% in the past 150 years.
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = ___Surface Ocean________
What did you learn?
"The ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide than the land does." "The surface ocean takes in approximately 90 Gigatons of carbon per year."
12. Next stop = _____Deep Ocean___________
What did you learn?
"The deep ocean gets carbon from circulation with the surface ocean and from dead, decaying marine organisms/life." "Carbon stays in the deep ocean for hundreds of years, before moving on. "The deep ocean holds more than 65% of the earth's carbon."
The deep ocean accounts for more than __65___ % of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
The surface ocean takes in 90 gigaton of carbon per year.
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
False, they bring carbon into the ocean.
13. Next stop = _____Marine Life____________
What did you learn?
"Marine life can not survive without carbon." "Too much carbon in the ocean is also bad for the marine animals like corals and algae." "Marine organisms need to take in carbon to make nutrition for photosynthesis."
14. Next stop = _______Land Plants_____________
What did you learn?
"When there is more carbon dioxide in the air, plants will grow faster." "Plants release carbon back to the atmosphere by respiration."
15. Next stop = ______Soils_____________
What did you learn?
"Detritus is decomposing plants and animals." "Soil is made of inorganic parts like sand, clay, and silt." "Soil stores 3% of earth's carbon." "As bacteria and fungi breakdown the detritus, carbon is sent into the atmosphere."
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
______Hundreds of years_________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon
dioxide as they grow.
True
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
True
Nitrogen Cycle:
Go to http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html and answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
The two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen are nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
The two compounds of nitrogen combined with oxygen is nitrogen oxide.
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
Nitric acid forms usually forms when nitrogen dioxide reacts with water in rain.
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?
Nitric acid is important because it can be used a nutrients for the plants.
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
The air is 79% nitrogen.
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen (N2) found in the air. Why not?
Most plants do not use nitrogen found in the air, because their nitrogen must be in a "fixed form."
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
Plants can use nitrogen in forms of nitrate ions, ammonium ions, and urea.
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
Animals get nitrogen they need by eating other animals or plants.
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the process of breaking up N2.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
"Atmospheric fixation is a huge energy of lightning breaks nitrogen and allows their atoms to combine with oxygen in the air forming nitrogen oxides."
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
" Industrial Fixation is the use of a catalyst, atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen combined to form ammonia (NH3)."
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated with the symbiotic relationship.)
"Biological fixation is the ability to fix nitrogen is found only in certain bacteria and archaea such as in soybeans, alders, and alfalfa."
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Nitrogen is needed by both plants and animals because they need nitrogen-compounds, e.g., proteins and nucleic acids.
Water Cycle:
1. Define "water cycle".
Water cycle is part of precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water?
The earth's surface is covered with 3/4 of water.
3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land animals?
There is about only 3% of fresh water we and animals can use.
1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its ___liquid_______ state to a
____gaseous_______ state.
2. Why is evaporated water so clean?
Evaporated water is clean, because during the process the impurities are left behind.
3. Condensation occurs when a _____gas_______ is changed into a ____liquid______.
4. Condensation is the opposite of ___evaporation_________.
5. When the ________temperature________ and ______atmospheric_____________ are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration: This is a process where plants absorb water from the soil, and the water moves from the roots to the stem to the leaves. Then it evaporates from the leaves.
7. Define percolation: This is a process of filtering a fluid.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words.
Evaporation is a process of liquid like water disappearing into a gas form.
Condensation is a process where the water of gas form changes into the liquid form.
Precipitation is when the temperature and atmosphere pressure is at a certain level and the clouds let out droplets of rain.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas?
The most important factor in determining a water's form by the temperature.
3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
The earth's amount of water remains a constant amount.