Biogeochemial Cycles Flashcards
(27 cards)
What carbon forms are found in the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Methane
What Carbon forms are found in the hydrosphere?
Carbonic Acid
Hydrogen Carbonate Ions
What carbon forms are found in the lithosphere?
carbonate rocks, eg limestone
What carbon forms can be found in the biosphere?
all biological molecules, eg lipids, proteins, carbohydrates
What does anaerobic respiration release into the atmosphere?
methane
What is fossilisation?
The formation of long-term carbon stores such as fossil fuels and carbonate rocks
Name and explain a human activity that impacts the carbon cycle
Deforestation, reduces the amount of photosynthesis, slows the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere into biomass
Explain the effects of combusting fossil fuels
Releases the carbon stored in wood and fossil fuels back into the atmosphere
Could happen naturally in forest fires
List 3 examples of carbon stores
forests, peat bogs, coral reefs
What are the 2 methods humans can remove carbon from the atmosphere?
carbon sequestration through photosynthesis
carbon capture and storage- carbon pumped into underground structures in the lithosphere
What forms of nitrogen are found in the atmosphere?
nitrogen gas and nitrous oxide gases
What forms of nitrogen are found in the hydrosphere?
dissolved nitrates and ammonium ions
What forms of nitrogen are found in the lithosphere?
nitrates, nitrites, ammonium compounds in the soil, minerals containing nitrogen
What forms of nitrogen are found in the biosphere?
genetic material (DNA+RNA) and proteins
What is decomposition?
the breakdown of DOM to release ammonium ions/ammonia into the soil
What is nitrogen fixation?
converting nitrogen gas into a more usable form by breaking the triple bond and releasing the 2 nitrogen atoms
What is nitrification?
The oxidation of ammonium ions to nitrites then to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria in the soil
What is denitrification?
the chemical reduction of nitrates in the soil to nitrogen and nitrogen oxide gases
usually occurs in anaerobic conditions
What are the 4 main processes in the nitrogen cycle?
nitrogen fixation
ammonification
nitrification
denitrification
What is the harbor process?
artificial process used to make fertilisers
nitrogen and hydrogen atoms are brought together i high temperatures to form ammonia
What forms of phosphorous are found in the hydrosphere?
dissolved phosphate ions
Is phosphorous present in the atmosphere?
No
What forms of phosphorous are present in the lithosphere?
phosphates in the soil, phosphorous rich rocks such as guano
What forms of phosphorous are present in the biosphere?
bones, DNA, cell membranes