Biogeochemical Cycles Quiz

Carbon Cycle

• Carbon cycles through Earth, atmosphere, and living things.
• Key processes in the carbon cycle:
  • Photosynthesis: Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, making glucose.
  • Respiration: Living things release CO2 into the atmosphere.
  • Combustion: Burning fossil fuels releases CO2.
  • Ocean absorption: CO2 dissolves in oceans as carbonic acid.
• Humans add excess CO2, impacting global warming and climate change.

Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen cycles between the atmosphere, Earth, and living things.
• Nitrogen Fixation: Lightning or soil bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.
• Nitrification: Bacteria convert ammonia to nitrates and nitrites.
• Plants (like legumes) absorb these forms of nitrogen.
• Humans disrupt the cycle through excessive nitrogen addition (eutrophication).

Water Cycle

• Circulates freshwater on Earth's surface, in the air, and underground.
• Key processes:
  • Evaporation: Liquid water turns to water vapor.
  • Condensation: Water vapor turns into liquid or solid water.
  • Precipitation: Water falls as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
  • Sublimation: Solid ice turns directly into water vapor.
  • Transpiration: Water vapor released by plants.
  • Runoff: Water flowing over land.
  • Infiltration: Water soaking into the ground.
• The cycle sustains life, weather, and ecosystems.

Natural Resources

• Naturally occurring materials useful to humans.
• Classified as:
  • Renewable (e.g., air, water, sunlight, plants): Replenish quickly.
  • Non-renewable (e.g., fossil fuels): Limited or slow to replenish.
  • Biotic (e.g., plants, animals): Living or once-living.
  • Abiotic (e.g., minerals, rocks): Non-living.
• Air, water, soil, iron, and forests are crucial.

Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

• Both types power electricity generation and other uses.
• Renewable sources: Wind, water, geothermal, biomass, and plants.
  • Hydroelectric power is renewable since water is reused.
• Non-renewable sources (fossil fuels): Coal, oil, and natural gas.
  • Formed from ancient organic matter.
  • High energy, cheap, and abundant.
  • Release CO2 when burned, harming the environment and contributing to climate change.

Fossil Fuels

• Formed from ancient organic matter (plant/animal remains).
• Types: Coal, oil (crude oil), natural gas.
• Burning releases high amounts of energy.
• Advantages: High energy, affordable, plentiful, readily available.
• Disadvantages: Non-renewable, air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Sustainability

• Management of resources to ensure they stay available for future use.
• Renewable resources replenish faster than they're used.
• Non-renewable resources are finite.
• Sustainable development: Combines environmental protection with economic growth.
• Practices to support sustainability: Crop rotation, selective logging.

Natural Events

• Natural events (e.g., floods, volcanoes, earthquakes) can cause damage and threaten life.
• Often interrelated.
• Driven by energy from the sun or Earth's interior.
• Some are predictable, others are difficult to foresee.
• Impacts can range from beneficial (e.g., fertile soil) to harmful (e.g., widespread destruction).
• Secondary events, like fires or power outages, can worsen the effects on humans and wildlife.

Natural Disasters

• Examples: Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, mudslides, volcanoes, tsunamis.
• Preparation methods to mitigate damage:
  • Warning systems
  • Evacuation plans
  • Community preparedness plans
  • Road improvements
• Preventative measures to reduce the risk:
  • Identifying flood plains
  • Constructing dams, levees, gates
  • Afforestation (planting trees)