Biogeochemical Cycles

Energy

the ability to change something or do work. Comes in many forms like light, heat, and movement. Usually measured in kilocalories (kcal), joules (J), or kilojoules (kJ)

potential energy

Stored-up energy waiting to be used

Matter

anything with mass; atoms and anything made of atoms

conservation of energy and matter

energy and matter can be moved from place to place. Energy can be converted from one form to another. However, energy and mass are conserved (they cannot be created or destroyed)

Biomass

the mass of living organisms, usually measured as the total mass of all organisms in a certain group in a certain area

Biotic

something that is alive or used to be alive

Abiotic

something that has NEVER been alive (does NOT MEAN DEAD)

Atmosphere

the layer of gases surrounding the Earth (like a protective blanket); the air

The carbon cycle

the process where carbon moves between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living creatures

Nutrient pool

place where a nutrient (like carbon) is stored so that it can’t move around for a while

Carbon source

a nutrient pool that is letting out more carbon than it takes in

Carbon sink

a nutrient pool that is taking in more carbon than it releases

Nutrient flux

the movement of a nutrient into or out of a pool/sink/source

Net flux

the overall direction of nutrient movement (total moving in minus total moving out)

Weathering

rocks being broken down by wind, rain, light, atmospheric gasses, and organisms

Erosion

the movement of weathered rock

Biosphere

all of the biotic (living) parts of earth

Hydrosphere

all of the water sources on earth: lakes, rivers, oceans, glaciers, underground aquifers

Geosphere

all of the rocks and minerals on earth (including the inside of the planet). We will often talk about just the lithosphere, which is just the crust and soil

Tectonic plate

a huge chunk of earth’s crust that floats around slowly on the mantle (molten rock) below. The motion of these plates is often called plate tectonics