Unit 1 / AP Env Sci / Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Cycles

Carbon Cycle

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1. Photosynthesis

2. Respiration

3. Decomposition

4. Burial + Lithification

5. Combustion

6. Weathering + Erosion

7. Dissolving into Oceans

Carbon Photosynthesis Equation

6CO2 + 6H2O ------> C6H12O6 + 6O2

carbon dioxide + water + light ---> glucose + oxygen

Carbon Respiration Equation

C6H12O6 + 6O2 --→ 6CO2 + 6H20 + Energy

glucose + oxygen ---> carbon dioxide + water

Carbon Decompoaition

breaking down nutrients ----> to re-use carbon dioxide

Carbon Decomposition Respiration

requires the release of carbon dioxide

Carbon Burial + Lithification

Organic Matter ---> Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

Carbon Combustion

Carbon-rich material (wood, fossil fuels)

When you set a fire ---> release CO2 (carbon-dioxide)

Carbon Weathering + Erosion

Breaks down Limestone sediment CaCO3 (Limestone) ---> results in CO2 (release of carbon dioxide)

Carbon Dissolving Into Oceans

Carbon Dioxide/CO2 gas recycles itself back into the ocean

Percentage of Oxygen Cover on Earth's Atmosphere

21%

Percentage of Nitrogen Cover on Earth's Atmosphere

78%

Importance of Nitrogen

-Synthesizes Proteins

-Nucleic Acids

-Ecology: A limitng factor (for controlling population growth)

Nitrogen Cycle

F.N.A.A.D.

1. Fixation

2. Nitrification

3. Assimilation

4. Ammonification

5. Denitrification

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (typically located in legumes; peanuts, soybeans in root)

N2 ---> NH3 ----> NH4

Nitrogen Gas to Ammonia to Ammonium

Both Ammonia and Ammonium can dissolve into H20/Water

Nitrification

Nitrifying bacteria (Ammonia, Ammonium) turn into No2 (Nitrite) which is TOXIC to plants, and No3 (Nitrate) which plants can use to convert energy/consume

Ate = the plants eat the Nitrate for Energy

Nitrogen Assimilation

Plants absorb useful forms of Nitrogen (Reactive, biologically available)

Takes NH3 (Ammonia), NH+4, and No-3 and converts them into Amino Acids

Nitrogen Ammonification

decomposer bacteria that breaks down waste nutrients and consumes them for energy

Nitrogen Rich Waste ---> NH3 (Ammonia), NH+4

Nitrogen Denitrification

Anaerobic Bacteria (less oxygenated)

Contains nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas and can trap heat energy into Earth's atmosphere

Haber-Bosch process

Artificial Nitrogen Fixing

Pros: Feeds 8 billion people

Cons: Reactive Nitrogen has lead to Marine + Freshwater Deadzones (essentially harmful torwards the environment)

Phosphorus Cycle

What Annie Does Biweekly

1. Weathering + Erosion

2. Assimilation

3. Decomposition

4. Burial + Lithification

Lithification

the geological process that transforms loose, unconsolidated sediment into solid sedimentary rock

Importance of Phosphorus Cycle

Produces ATP, Nucleotides, Phospholipid Bilayer

Critical Limiting Factor: Always Hard to Find (similar to Nitrogen gas)

Phosphorus Weathering + Erosion

Weathers and breaks down phosphorus (PO4-) sediments/rocks

Water Cycle

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Evaporation

Transpiration

Condensation

infiltration

Runoff

Water Evaporation

Liquid to Gas

Water Transpiration

Plants absorb water through their roots and release it as water vapor from their leaves into the air.

Water Condensation

Gas to Liquid

Water Infiltration

process in which water on the ground surface enters the soil

Water Runoff

The excess precipitation, snowmelt, or irrigation water that flows over the land surface because the soil cannot absorb it fast enough