Cycling of Matter & The Climate System

These flashcards capture key vocabulary and concepts related to the cycling of matter and the climate system, focusing on carbon and nitrogen cycles.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Natural cycling of matter and energy between abiotic and biotic environments.

Carbon Cycle

The process in which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Carbon Stores

Locations where carbon is held, such as marine sediments, oceans, fossil fuels, vegetation, soil, organic matter, and the atmosphere.

Global Carbon Budget

Describes the exchanges of carbon in different parts of the carbon cycle.

Nitrogen Cycle

The cycle where nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into forms usable by living organisms, such as ammonium (NH4) and nitrate (NO3-).

Algae Blooms

Rapid increases in the population of algae in water bodies, often caused by excess nitrogen runoff.

Dead Zones

Areas in aquatic environments where oxygen levels are so low that most marine life cannot survive, often resulting from nutrient pollution.