Cycles of Matter Cycles of Matter Chapter 19 Section 1

Objectives:Objectives:Diagram the water cycle and explain

its importance to living things

Diagram the carbon cycle and explain its importance to living things

Diagram the nitrogen cycle and explain its importance to living things

The Water Cycle:The Water Cycle:Definition:

the movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things

Water Cycle facts:Water Cycle facts:There are about 1.4 billion cubic

kilometers of water in the Earth system (1 cubic kilometer = 264 billion gallons!)

Only a small fraction of this exits the atmosphere (3,000km³)

If all the water in the atmosphere fell to Earth at one time, the land would be covered with about 2.5cm of water

More Water Cycle More Water Cycle facts:facts:Plants play an important role

Of the 1200km³ of water that enters the atmosphere every day, as much as 120km³ is released by plants as they transpire

One acre of cornfield can transpire as much as 15,000L of water every day!!

Water vocabulary:Water vocabulary:EvaporationCondensationPrecipitationTranspirationRunoffGroundwater

How Water Moves:How Water Moves:Evaporation: the sun’s heat causes

water to change from liquid to vapor

Condensation: vapor cools and returns to the liquid state

Precipitation: water that falls from the atmosphere to the land and oceans in the form of rain, snow, sleet, and hail

How water moves:How water moves:Transpiration: the process by which

plants release water vapor into the air through stomata; other organisms also release vapor through expiration

Runoff: precipitation that falls on land and flows into streams, rivers, and lakes

Groundwater: precipitation that seeps into the ground and is stored in spaces between or within rocks.

Basic Water Cycle:Basic Water Cycle:

http://water.tamu.edu/images/roundwatercycle.jpg

Advanced USGS Water Advanced USGS Water Cycle:Cycle:Visit this link for practice:http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/

watercycleguess.html

Follow along on your handout…how many can you find??

Answer page for USGS water Answer page for USGS water cycle:cycle:http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/

watercyclehi.html

Water & Life:Water & Life:All organisms are composed of

mostly water

Water helps to transport nutrients & wastes

Also helps to regulate temperature

All water taken in is returned to the environment (ex: plants – transpiration)

The Carbon Cycle:The Carbon Cycle:Besides water, organic molecules

(carbon containing)) are the most common molecules in living things

Definition: the exchange of carbon between the environment and living things

Carbon Cycle vocabulary:Carbon Cycle vocabulary:Photosynthesis

Respiration

Decomposition

Combustion

Carbon Cycle terms:Carbon Cycle terms:Photosynthesis:

◦the basis for the carbon cycle◦Plants use CO2 from the air to make

sugars◦Most animals get the carbon and energy

they need by eating plantsRespiration:

◦Sugar molecules are broken down to release energy

◦Carbon is returned to the environment◦CO2 and water are released as by products

Carbon Cycle terms:Carbon Cycle terms:Decomposition:

◦Breakdown of substances into simpler molecules

◦Ex: fungi & bacteria break decompose organic matter, CO2 and water are returned to the environment

Combustion: ◦Breakdown organic matter using fire◦Ex: burning wood or fossil fuels◦Releases CO2 into the atmosphere

Facts: Facts: Carbon may remain in the environment

for millions of years before becoming available for living things to use

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere

Human activities can alter the historical balance of the global carbon cycle

The Carbon Cycle (basics):The Carbon Cycle (basics):

http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS_Images/SAS_ecol_images/SAS_ecol_physical/cycle_carbon_4.jpg

The Carbon Cycle: The Carbon Cycle:

http://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/images/carboncycle_sm.jpg

Carbon Cycle Animation:Carbon Cycle Animation:Let’s go to the EPA Climate

Change website to check out the carbon cycle in action…

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/carbon_cycle_version2.html

When you are done…take the quiz!!

The Nitrogen Cycle:The Nitrogen Cycle:Definition: the movement of

nitrogen between the environment and living things

Organisms need nitrogen to build proteins and DNA for new cells

Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle vocabulary:vocabulary:Nitrogen fixation

Nitrification

Denitrification

Assimilation

Ammonification

Nitrogen Cycle basics:Nitrogen Cycle basics:

http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS_Images/SAS_ecol_images/SAS_ecol_physical/Nitrogen_Cycle-4.jpg

Vocabulary applied:Vocabulary applied:Nitrogen fixation: bacteria in the

soil convert nitrogen gas into forms that plants can use

Nitrification: bacteria make nitrogen available to the roots of plants (conversion of nitrogen containing compounds to nitrates & nitrites)

Denitrification: to remove nitrogen by reducing nitrates to nitrogen gas, replenishing the atmosphere

Nitrogen Cycle revisited:Nitrogen Cycle revisited:

Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle vocabulary:vocabulary:Assimilation: plants absorb

ammonium and nitrate from the soil

Ammonification: (mineralization) conversion of organic nitrogen back into ammonium

The Nitrogen Cycle:The Nitrogen Cycle:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nitrogen_Cycle.svg

Nitrogen Cycle animation:Nitrogen Cycle animation:

BBC GCSE Bitesize – Science Natural Polymers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c/food/naturalpolymersrev3.shtml

Check out the animation and put it all make the connection!

Another Nitrogen Cycle Another Nitrogen Cycle diagram:diagram:

http://www.nicksnowden.net/images/Nutrient_Cycles/nitrogen_cycle_cartoon.gif