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Carbon Cycle :)
Name ______________Estefany Coria _____________________ Date _____________
Cycling WebQuest
Directions: Visit the following websites and answer the related questions. Your goal is to gain a
better understanding of the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Background: In biogeochemical cycles (including carbon, water and nitrogen cycles), elements are
transported between the atmosphere, biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and geosphere
(rocks, minerals, and soils). These cycles help us remember that Earth is a complex system.
Carbon Cycle:
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html and answer these
questions:
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
(ON TOP)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?Carbon is attached to oxygen and through photosynhesis carbon dioxide is pulled from the air to make plant food from carbon.
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
Dead Organisms and waste products >>>>> Fossil and Fossil fuels
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
- When we burn fossil fuels in factories, cars, macines
- When photosynthesis occurs with the help of the sun
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
-The oceans and other bodies of water soak up carbon from the atmosphere
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
When green house gases are releazedin the air such as carbon dioxide it creates our planet to become warmer and heats it up.
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
Carbon moves through our planet over longer time scales as well. For example, over millions of years weathering of rocks on land can add carbon to surface water which eventually runs off to the ocean.
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon cycle
game. You are a carbon atom!
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
The atmosphere
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2
)? (.004%)
10. By how much has CO2
increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years? 30%
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure
you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = ___Surface Ocean ______________________________________
What did you learn? I learned that the ocean absorbs more of the carbon dioxide than the land does! It at least take 90 Gigatones a year .
12. Next stop = _Marine Life ________________________________________
What did you learn? Tiny marine organisms called phytoplankton take in carbon to make the nutrition they need through a process called photosynthesis. Marine life cannot live without carbon!
The deep ocean accounts for more than ___65__ % of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year? 90 Gigatones
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
13. Next stop = ____Land Plants _____________________________________
What did you learn? As more carbon is added to the atmosphere the plants are able to grow faster, as well as they relaease carbon back into the atmoshere through respiration.
14. Next stop = __Soil_______________________________________
What did you learn? Detrius decomposes plants and animals and soil contain and absorb aout 3% of the earths carbon.
15. Next stop = _Atmosphere ________________________________________
What did you learn? The carbon dioxide has increased by 30 % in the atmosphere.
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
______Hundreds of years _________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon
dioxide as they grow.
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2
from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
Nitrogen Cycle:
Go to http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html and
answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other
words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
-High Temperatures and high pressures found in power plants, lightning bolts, and combustion engines
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen? Nitric oxide, NO, and nitrogen dioxide, NO2,
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3
) form? When Nitrogen dioxide is mixed with rain (water)
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3
) important? This may be used in plants as a nutrient
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and
answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen? 79%
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen
(N2) found in the air. Why not?The nitrogen should be in "fixed formed" such as :
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use
them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the
process of breaking up N2
.
a. What is atmospheric fixation? The nitrogen molecule (N2) is quite inert. To break it apart so that its atoms can combine with other atoms requires the input of substantial amounts of energy.
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.] When enormous lightning breaks nitorgen molecules and combine with oxygen and make nitrogen oxides.
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated
with the symbiotic relationship.) The ability to fix nitrogen is found only in certain bacteria and archaea. Some have a sybiotic relationship with soybeans, alfalfa.
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other
diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the
reading and links for help. 26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/index.htm. Answer the following questions.
1. Define "water cycle".Is a process tahts includes precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration that gives us water to drink, fish to eat, and wether patterns to hel us grow crops.
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water? 97%
3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land
animals? 1 %
Click on http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/concepts.htm.Answer the following questions.
1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its ___liquid_______ state to a
_____gaseous ______ state.
2. Why is evaporated water so clean? Duiring the process inpurities in the water are left behind.
3. Condensation occurs when a ___gas_________ is changed into a _____liquid_____.
4. Condensation is the opposite of ______Evaporization______.
5. When the atmospheric pressure and _________temperature__________ are right, the small droplets of
water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration: evaporiation through the process of plant leaves
7. Define percolation: movemnt of water thrugh pores of soil or rock
Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/cycle.htm. Answer the following questions.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water
cycle in your own words. The water cycle has three main steps which are evaporization when vapor is rised and then, condensation which is when clouds form after evaprization and then lastly theirs precipitation when the rain falls.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas? The temperature
3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount? It is constant
Cycling WebQuest
Directions: Visit the following websites and answer the related questions. Your goal is to gain a
better understanding of the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Background: In biogeochemical cycles (including carbon, water and nitrogen cycles), elements are
transported between the atmosphere, biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and geosphere
(rocks, minerals, and soils). These cycles help us remember that Earth is a complex system.
Carbon Cycle:
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html and answer these
questions:
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
(ON TOP)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?Carbon is attached to oxygen and through photosynhesis carbon dioxide is pulled from the air to make plant food from carbon.
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
Dead Organisms and waste products >>>>> Fossil and Fossil fuels
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
- When we burn fossil fuels in factories, cars, macines
- When photosynthesis occurs with the help of the sun
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
-The oceans and other bodies of water soak up carbon from the atmosphere
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
When green house gases are releazedin the air such as carbon dioxide it creates our planet to become warmer and heats it up.
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
Carbon moves through our planet over longer time scales as well. For example, over millions of years weathering of rocks on land can add carbon to surface water which eventually runs off to the ocean.
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon cycle
game. You are a carbon atom!
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
The atmosphere
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2
)? (.004%)
10. By how much has CO2
increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years? 30%
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure
you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = ___Surface Ocean ______________________________________
What did you learn? I learned that the ocean absorbs more of the carbon dioxide than the land does! It at least take 90 Gigatones a year .
12. Next stop = _Marine Life ________________________________________
What did you learn? Tiny marine organisms called phytoplankton take in carbon to make the nutrition they need through a process called photosynthesis. Marine life cannot live without carbon!
The deep ocean accounts for more than ___65__ % of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year? 90 Gigatones
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
13. Next stop = ____Land Plants _____________________________________
What did you learn? As more carbon is added to the atmosphere the plants are able to grow faster, as well as they relaease carbon back into the atmoshere through respiration.
14. Next stop = __Soil_______________________________________
What did you learn? Detrius decomposes plants and animals and soil contain and absorb aout 3% of the earths carbon.
15. Next stop = _Atmosphere ________________________________________
What did you learn? The carbon dioxide has increased by 30 % in the atmosphere.
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
______Hundreds of years _________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon
dioxide as they grow.
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2
from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
Nitrogen Cycle:
Go to http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html and
answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other
words, what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
-High Temperatures and high pressures found in power plants, lightning bolts, and combustion engines
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen? Nitric oxide, NO, and nitrogen dioxide, NO2,
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3
) form? When Nitrogen dioxide is mixed with rain (water)
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3
) important? This may be used in plants as a nutrient
Go to: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and
answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen? 79%
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen
(N2) found in the air. Why not?The nitrogen should be in "fixed formed" such as :
- nitrate ions (NO3−)
- ammonia (NH3)
- urea (NH2)2CO
- nitrate ions (NO3−)
- ammonia (NH3)
- urea (NH2)2CO
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart.
When molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use
them as a nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the
process of breaking up N2
.
a. What is atmospheric fixation? The nitrogen molecule (N2) is quite inert. To break it apart so that its atoms can combine with other atoms requires the input of substantial amounts of energy.
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.] When enormous lightning breaks nitorgen molecules and combine with oxygen and make nitrogen oxides.
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated
with the symbiotic relationship.) The ability to fix nitrogen is found only in certain bacteria and archaea. Some have a sybiotic relationship with soybeans, alfalfa.
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle: On a separate piece of paper: (Remember there are other
diagrams on the previous websites.) If you’re not sure what a term means, look through the
reading and links for help. 26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?
Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/index.htm. Answer the following questions.
1. Define "water cycle".Is a process tahts includes precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration that gives us water to drink, fish to eat, and wether patterns to hel us grow crops.
2. What fraction of the Earth’s surface is covered in water? 97%
3. What percentage of all the Earth’s water is in a form that is useable to humans and land
animals? 1 %
Click on http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/concepts.htm.Answer the following questions.
1. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its ___liquid_______ state to a
_____gaseous ______ state.
2. Why is evaporated water so clean? Duiring the process inpurities in the water are left behind.
3. Condensation occurs when a ___gas_________ is changed into a _____liquid_____.
4. Condensation is the opposite of ______Evaporization______.
5. When the atmospheric pressure and _________temperature__________ are right, the small droplets of
water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
6. Define transpiration: evaporiation through the process of plant leaves
7. Define percolation: movemnt of water thrugh pores of soil or rock
Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/cycle.htm. Answer the following questions.
1. Using the terms "evaporation", "condensation", and "precipitation", explain the water
cycle in your own words. The water cycle has three main steps which are evaporization when vapor is rised and then, condensation which is when clouds form after evaprization and then lastly theirs precipitation when the rain falls.
2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas? The temperature
3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount? It is constant