Yessica Pacheco

Carbon Cycle:

Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html and answer these questions: 1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)

2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere? -Carbon exist because of the fact that it is attached to oxygen atoms, also known as CO2. 3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain. -Fossil fuels are created by the decaying of things that have carbon in them, which are sometimes buried underground for millions of years. 4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere. -Carbon enters the atmosphere by either animal/plant respiration or the burning of fossil fuels. 5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle? -Oceans are involved because they can absorb the carbon from the atmosphere and weathering of rocks. 6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon? -The temperature is controlled because carbon heats up the Earth. 7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle? -Rocks can sometimes have carbon within them and can release it into the oceans through weathering. 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?

Yessica Pacheco

-I am starting at the atmosphere. Click to begin your journey 9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)? -It was originally 0.04% but now it is up to 30%. 10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years? -It has increased by about 29% during 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? - I learned that the surface ocean takes up more carbon from the atmosphere than land, and cold water absorbs carbon faster. 12. Next stop = True or False What did you learn? -I learned that colder water absorbs carbon faster. The deep ocean accounts for more than 65% of the Earths carbon. How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year? -The surface ocean absorbs about 90 Gigatons of carbon each year. True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil. -True 13. Next stop = Marine Life What did you learn? -I learned that phytoplankton take carbon in through the process of photosynthesis. 14. Next stop = Land Plants What did you learn? -I learned plants use photosynthesis to take carbon and make it into food. Carbon is a building block that makes a plant. 15. Next stop = Soil What did you learn? -I learned carbon is detritus once the plant dies, and soils stores about 3% of Earth's carbon. When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there? -It stays there for hundreds of years before it leaves. True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon dioxide as they grow. -False 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?)

Yessica Pacheco

-The two conditions needed are oxygen in high temperatures, and pressures near lightning or combustion. 17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen? -The two compounds are nitric oxide(NO) and nitrogen dioxide(NO2). 18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form? -Nitric acid is formed from rain water and nitrogen dioxide. 19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important? -Nitric acid is important because it is used by plants as a nutrient. 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 percentage is 79%. 21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen (N2) found in the air. Why not? -The nitrogen must be in a fixed form such as nitrate ions, ammonia, and urea. 22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen? -The compounds are NO3, NH3, and(NH2)2CO. 23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need? -They get it through eating plants or animals who ate 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? -It is when lightning energy breaks apart the molecules and lets oxygen and nitrogen bond together. They dissolve in rain. b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.] -It is when atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen combine to form ammonia under a hot temperature. c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated with the symbiotic relationship.) -Biological fixation is when nitrogen is fixed that is found in only certain bacteria and archea. They sometimes live in a symbiotic relationship with: soybeans, alfalfa, alders, rice paddies. 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 youre not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.

Yessica Pacheco

26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals? -Nitrogen is a nutrient needed for both plants and animals. Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/index.htm. Answer the following questions. 1. Define "water cycle". -Water cycle is when water is being passed through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. 2. What fraction of the Earths surface is covered in water? -There is about 70%. 3. What percentage of all the Earths water is in a form that is useable to humans and land animals? -The percentage is 3%. Click on http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/concepts.htm.Answer the following questions. 1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its liquid state to a gas state. 2. Why is evaporated water so clean? -The impurities and all the bad stuff from the liquid water is left behind as it evaporates. 3. Condensation occurs when a gas is changed into a liquid. 4. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation. 5. When the temperature and atmospheric pressure are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs. 6. Define transpiration: The evaporation through plant leaves. 7. Define percolation: -When the water seeps underground to aquifers.

Yessica Pacheco

Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/cycle.htm. Answer the following questions. 1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water cycle in your own words. The water cycle is the change of water throughout 3 phases, the phases are : evaporation, condensation, and precipitation Evaporation is the process when the liquid water turns into gas. Condensation is the opposite of evaporation, the gas changes back into water. Precipitation is when the condensation is done, letting the liquid water go back into Earth. 2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas? -The most important factor is temperature. 3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount? -The amount of water is a constant amount.