Biogeochemical Cycle words

Run-off

"Runoff" can refer to water that flows over the ground after rain or snowmelt, or to a second election held when no candidate wins a majority in the first round.

condensation

is the phase transition of matter from a gas to a liquid (or directly to a solid via deposition), and it is the exact reverse of vaporization.

precipitation

Precipitation is any liquid or frozen water—such as rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, or hail—that forms in the atmosphere and falls to Earth's surface due to gravity

percolation

is the slow passage, movement, or filtration of a liquid through a porous medium, such as water seeping down through soil or hot water dripping through coffee grounds.

Transpiration

the physiological process by which water is absorbed by a plant’s roots from the soil, moves upward through the vascular tissue, and is eventually released as water vapor into the atmosphere from aerial parts like leaves, stems, and flowers

accumulation

the gradual gathering, collecting, or growth of something into a mass, pile, or larger amount over time

sublimation

a physical, psychological, or industrial process where a substance or impulse changes state directly into something new without passing through an intermediate liquid or destructive phase.

Infiltration

the downward movement and entry of water from the Earth's surface into the soil and subsurface layers. It plays a foundational role in the water cycle, ecology, and civil engineering

combustion

a high-temperature, exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant (usually atmospheric oxygen) that releases energy in the form of heat and light

uplift

the upward movement of the Earth's surface or crust to a higher elevation

Nitrification

the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH₃) or ammonium (NH₄⁺) into nitrate (NO₃⁻) through an intermediate nitrite (NO₂⁻) stage.

Denitrification

a microbially facilitated respiration process where bacteria reduce nitrate (NO₃⁻) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxides into molecular dinitrogen gas (N₂) that returns to the atmosphere

Ammonification

the biological process where microorganisms like bacteria and fungi break down nitrogen-containing organic matter—such as dead plants, animal carcasses, and waste products like urea—and convert it into ammonia

Ammonia

inorganic chemical compound with the formula NH3

Eutrophication

the process in which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus), leading to an excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants

tectonic uplift

the rising of earth’s surface caused by the movement and interaction of the planets

Assimilation(plants)

the process by which they take in inorganic nutrients from their enviorment and convert them into essential organic molecules like protein, nucleic acids and carbohydrates

Assimilation(animals)

the biological process of converting digested and absorbed nutirents into living cells, tissues, and energy storing biomolecules

sedimentation

the natural or mechanical process where suspended particles settle out of a fluid (such as water or air) and collect at the bottom or on a barrier due to forces like gravity or centrifugation

what is a water cycle?

(also called the hydrologic cycle) is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth

what is a carbon cycle?

is the continuous movement and reuse of carbon atoms between the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, land, rocks, and living things

what is a nitrogen cycle

the natural process that continuously moves and transforms nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, water, plants, and animals so life can use it

what is a phosphorus cycle

slow biogeochemical process by which phosphorus moves through rocks, soil, water and living organisms( crucial for building block for DNA, RNA, cell membranes and ATP)

desalination

an artificial process where it removes dissolved salts and minerals from water to create fresh water