Carbon/Water Cycle

Biogeochemical Cycles

Cycles that involve the recycling of chemical elements and water through biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.

Water Cycle

A global cycle through which water moves on, above, and below Earth's surface, occurring in gas, liquid, and solid states.

Evaporation

The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas due to heating by the sun.

Transpiration

The release of water vapor by plants through leaf pores called stomata.

Condensation

The process in which water vapor cools and changes into tiny droplets of liquid water.

Precipitation

Any form of water, such as rain or snow, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Runoff

Water that flows over the surface of the ground, eventually leading to bodies of water.

Groundwater

Water that soaks into the ground, which can be stored in aquifers.

Carbon Cycle

The cycle through which carbon atoms circulate through the biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants absorb carbon dioxide to produce energy and release oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which organisms convert food and water into energy, producing carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Reservoirs

Natural storage areas for substances, such as sedimentary rock and the ocean for carbon.

Carbon Dioxide

A gas that is absorbed by plants and released into the atmosphere through respiration and combustion.

Decomposition

The process through which dead organisms break down, releasing carbon back into the environment.

Aquifer

An underground layer of rock that stores water, sometimes for thousands of years.

Sublimation

The process by which ice and snow change directly into water vapor.