BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES,

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

And

Renewable vs Nonrenewable Resources

Biogeochemical Cycles• Water Cycle (hydrological)– How water is transferred from the atmosphere to earth,

through organisms and back to the atmosphere• Carbon Cycle– How carbon dioxide and oxygen are cycled from the

atmosphere through organisms and back to the atmosphere.

• Nitrogen Cycle– How organisms convert (fix) unusable nitrogen in the

atmosphere to usable nitrogen to make proteins

Water Cycle TERMS–Precipitation– Transpiration– Evaporation– Infiltration(seepage)–Ground Water–Run Off–Condensationhttp://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/geog/hydro_cycle/hydro/cycle.htm

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/HydrologicCycleQuiz.htm

Nitrogen Cycle1. All organisms need Nitrogen to build proteins and for growth. Our atmosphere is made up of what % of Nitrogen?2. 78% of the atmosphere is Nitrogen, but organisms cannot use it. The nitrogen needs to be changed (or “fixed”) into a useable form (ammonia)

3. Nitrogen fixing bacteria, on the roots of plants, (Legume or bean plants like peanuts, soy) change the nitrogen to a usable form (ammonia/nitrates)4.Animals then eat the plants/plant eaters to get the needed nitrogen

NITROGEN CYCLE

Nitrogen Cycle Terms

Decomposition – when dead organisms break down and release nitrogen into the soil

Detritivores – organisms that break down dead material (earthworms, fungus)

Nitrogen Fixation – when bacteria in soil changes nitrogen to a useable formLegumes – bean plants whose roots have nitrogen fixing bacteriaAmmonia – a useable form of nitrogen

CARBON CYCLE

Carbon CycleTERMS

CARBON ‘SINKS’ (STORES Carbon)

Or

CARBON ‘SOURCES’ (ADDS Carbon to our atmosphere)

??• Respiration.........• Photosynthesis…• Combustion………• Decomposition…. • Fossil Fuels……….

SOURCE

SINK

SOURCE

SOURCE

SOURCE when Burned, SINK when stored in the ground

CARBON CYCLE

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT