Halloran CP Bio B - 22 Biogeochemical Cycles

precipitation

Water cycle – water falls from atmosphere to ground (rain, sleet, snow)

inflitration

Water cycle – water seeps from surface to underground

aquifer

Water cycle – an underground layer of permeable rock that holds water

runoff

Water cycle – liquid water that runs along surface of ground and collects in bodies of water

evaporation

Water cycle – sunlight heats liquid water to vapor which rises into the atmosphere

transpiration

Water cycle – water vapor that rises back into the atmosphere from plants

condensation

Water cycle – water vapor in the atmosphere condenses from gas to liquid to form clouds and before precipitating

assimilation

when an organism takes in a nutrient/atom and makes it part of their body

elimination

when an organism has a nutrient/atom exit their body as a waste (in urine, feces, or exhalation)

eutrophication

when a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, causing excessive algae growth

photosynthesis

Carbon cycle – plants take CO₂ from the atmosphere and fix it into sugar (C₆H₁₂O₆)

cellular respiration

Carbon cycle – CO₂ is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct from cellular respiration (the breakdown of sugars)

consumption

Carbon cycle – one organism eats another to obtain organic (carbon) molecules

decomposition

Carbon cycle – breakdown of biomolecules from dead organisms, sending carbon into the soil and atmosphere

fossilization

Carbon cycle – converts carbon from dead organisms into fossil fuels through intense heat and compression

combustion

Carbon cycle – CO₂ released into the atmosphere from burning wood and fossil fuels