Cycles of Matter Also called biogeochemical cycles These cycles are nature’s way of recycling...
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Transcript of Cycles of Matter Also called biogeochemical cycles These cycles are nature’s way of recycling...
CHAPTER 2 SECTION 1CYCLES OF
MATTER
Cycles of Matter
Also called biogeochemical cycles These cycles are nature’s way of
recycling because…Matter is always conserved
The three main cycles are water, carbon, and nitrogen
The Water Cycle
Water is constantly moving between biotic and abiotic things.
Water can move through the environment in four main ways
1. Precipitation—movement of water from the atmosphere to the land
Includes rain, snow, sleet, hail Approx. 91% falls on the ocean; the other
9% falls on land to replenish the fresh water supply.
The Water Cycle
2. Evaporation—Water moving from the land to the atmosphere
Transpiration—a form of evaporation from the surface of living things
Condensation—When water vapor cools to form a liquid (falls as precipitation)
The Water Cycle
3. Ground Water—when water seeps into the ground, where it is stored in places like underground caverns. Provides water to the soil, streams, rivers,
and oceans
4. Runoff—Water that does not seep into the ground, but rather flows on top of it
The Carbon Cycle
Every living thing contains carbon. Carbon also moves through the
environment in four main ways.
The Carbon Cycle Photosynthesis—producers use carbon
dioxide (CO2) from the air to make food for themselves
Respiration—when carbon is returned to the atmosphere as animals exhale
Decomposition—when bacteria and fungi break down dead materials to release carbon
Combustion—when fossil fuels are burned, carbon is released
The Nitrogen Cycle Approx. 78% of Earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen
gas. However, most organisms cannot use this form
directly from the atmosphere Nitrogen Fixation—bacteria in the soil are able
to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants and animalsLightning can also “fix” nitrogen
Denitrification—other bacteria do the opposite: convert usable nitrogen back into atmospheric nitrogen