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The Earth's Cycles
All four spheres are constantly interacting and this interaction allows for the cycling of energy, water and nutrients throughout the environment. This cycling includes the hydrologic cycle, and nutrient cycles, such as the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle and are called biogeochemical cycles.
The Hydrologic Cycle
The hydrologic, or water cycle, is the flow of water between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. Water evaporates from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere. As the water rises, it condenses into clouds and falls back to the Earth as precipitation. The water eventually finds its way back to rivers, lakes, and the oceans, or is absorbed and then released by plants.
The Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon between the Earth, the oceans, the atmosphere and living things. Plants use photosynthesis to take up carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into plant material. Animals use oxygen to turn the plant's sugars into energy and release carbon dioxide and water back into the environment during respiration.
Watch the following Carbon Cycle video
The Nitrogen Cycle
The movement of nitrogen between the atmosphere, living organisms and the Earth is called the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen is required for plant growth. Bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen from the air into nitrates, which are absorbed by plants through their roots. Nitrogen is released back into the environment through animal waste and the decay of plants and animals. Humans alter the flow of nitrogen by adding fertilizer to the soil and burning fossil fuels. This can contribute to air pollution and acid rain.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: FILL IN THE BLANKS.
The process when water vapour turns back to liquid water is called _______.
The process plants use to change carbon dioxide into sugar is called _______.
Animals use the process of _______ to make energy from sugars using oxygen.
Plants absorb nitrates from the soil through their _______.
Nitrogen is released back into the environment through animal waste and the _______.
Classwork:
Classwork:
In the following game, you will become one of the nutrients discussed above to learn how chemicals move through living things and non-living things on earth.
Click on the website below to launch the game and complete the biogeochemical worksheet while playing the game. The worksheet can be found in google classroom
Biogeochemical Cycle Game
Click on the game on the left
Go to google classroom to get the game worksheet
Choose a cycle that you would like to learn more about: the water cycle, nitrogen cycle, or carbon cycle.
Record your journey as a chemical on the worksheet and when you are finished you will turn in the worksheet.
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