Biogeochemical Cycles

Question 1

biogeochemical cycles definition

Answer 1

the movements of nutrients and other elements between biotic and abiotic factors

Question 2

inferred reserves

Answer 2

the presence of the mineral can be predicted from knowledge of the geological structures present but not enough is known to estimate the amount that can be economically extracted.

Question 3

probable reserves

Answer 3

sufficient info about the deposit is known, so the amount of the mineral that can be economically extracted can be estimated with sufficient accuracy that further exploration is justified

Question 4

proven reserves

Answer 4

sufficient exploration has been carried out to accurately estimate the amount of the mineral that can be economically exploited.

Question 5

What are biogeochemical cycles?

Answer 5

the supply of bioelements is finite. They are recycled in a closed system

Question 6

how do humans increase the rate of transfer of carbon?

Answer 6

Afforestation, aerobic decay caused by ploughing, padi fields, landfill sites, combustion, microbes in the gut of livestock, higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Question 7

decrease the in the rate of transfer of carbon

Answer 7

Deforestation, pollutants in the sea, harvesting of crops, slaughtering of animals, marsh drainage

Question 8

carbon cycle:
photosynthesis- deforestation

Answer 8

reduces the movement of carbon from the atmosphere into biomass.

Question 9

carbon cycle:
photosynthesis- afforestation

Answer 9

increases the movement of carbon from the atmosphere into biomass

Question 10

carbon cycle:
photosynthesis- marine pollution

Answer 10

with toxic materials can reduce phytoplankton populations

Question 11

carbon cycle:
aerobic respiration

Answer 11

the carbon in DOM in the soil is gradually released as CO2 by the aerobic respiration of soil organisms, especially bacteria and fungi

Question 12

carbon cycle:
aerobic respiration- ploughing

Answer 12

increases the oxygen supply to decomposers living in the soil so aerobic decomposition takes place more rapidly.

Question 13

carbon cycle:
anaerobic respiration

Answer 13

respiration by anaerobic soil organisms methane gas. If the methane is released into the atmosphere, it’s gradually oxidised to CO2

Question 14

carbon cycle:
combustion

Answer 14

combustion of fossil fuels and wood release large amount od CO2.

Question 15

carbon cycle:
How is methane released into the atmosphere?

Answer 15

through coal mining and from the extraction of crude oil and natural gas.

Question 16

carbon cycle:
biomass movements

Answer 16

humans don’t directly affect this but human activities can provide local changes

Question 17

carbon cycle:
what local changes can humans make to help biomass movement?

Answer 17

addition of compost to improve soil fertility, fishing moves carbon from the sea to the land, removing crops and livestock to eat stops DOM reaching the soil

Question 18

sustainable management of the carbon cycle:
alternatives to fossil fuels

Answer 18

renewable energy and nuclear power

Question 19

sustainable management of the carbon cycle:
carbon sequestration

Answer 19

large scale tree planting in the growth phase stores CO2. When tree is fully grown no extra carbon is stored so the store should cut down.

Question 20

sustainable management of the carbon cycle:
conservation of biomass

Answer 20

protecting habitats such as forests and peat bogs

Question 21

Carbon capture and storage:
1. pre combustion technology

Answer 21

gasification turns coal into hydrogen and CO2- CO2 is taken away and stored, hydrogen can be used as fuel

Question 22

Carbon capture and storage:
2. Post combustion technology

Answer 22

not fully developed but after fuel has been burnt you can try and remove the CO2 through:
dissolving it in a solvent, filtration, cryogenic seperation,
grapheme absorbtion

Question 23

Carbon capture and storage:
3. Storage

Answer 23

After CO2 is captured it needs storing in a suitable geological structure underground like an old oil reservoir

Question 24

sustainable management of the carbon cycle:
making afforestation to deforestation

Answer 24

making sure that the net impact of deforestation O

Question 25

sustainable management of the carbon cycle: conservation of biomass stores

Answer 25

habitats like peat bogs and forests store large amounts of carbon. Protecting these from exploration.

Question 26

The Nitrogen Cycle Reservoirs: atmosphere

Answer 26

Nitrogen gas (N2) oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

Question 27

The Nitrogen Cycle Reservoirs: Biosphere

Answer 27

living organisms: DNA, proteins DOM: proteins which release ammonium compounds as they decompose

Question 28

Nitrogen Cycle Reservoirs: Lithosphere

Answer 28

Soil: ammonium compound, nitrates, nitrites Rocks: minerals containing nitrogen

Question 29

Nitrogen Cycle Reservoirs: Hydrosphere

Answer 29

Dissolving nitrates and ammonium ions

Question 30

whats the major reservoir of Nitrogen gas?

Answer 30

air

Question 31

Nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 31

the process where atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into usable forms, primarily ammonia (NH3), by certain microorganisms or industrial processes.

Question 32

Nitrogen Cycle: decomposition

Answer 32

breaking down dead organic matter, including plant and animal tissues, and waste products like urine and feces, releasing nitrogen back into the soil.

Question 33

Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrification

Answer 33

A group of free-living soil bacteria called nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates which requires oxygen.

Question 34

Nitrogen Cycle: Denitrification

Answer 34

denitrification reduces nitrates to nitrogen gas, thus replenishing the atmosphere.

Question 35

nitrogen cycle: ionisation

Answer 35

the events that provide energy for atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen to react to produce oxides of nitrogen

Question 36

nitrogen cycle: feeding along a food chain

Answer 36

the passage of nitrogen rich food as amino acids and proteins

Question 37

nitrogen cycle: root absorption

Answer 37

of soluble ions such as nitrates and ammonium compounds

Question 38

nitrogen cycle: leaching

Answer 38

the loss of soluble substances such as nitrates from the surface layers of the soil as it's carried away by water.

Question 39

What's the haber process?

Answer 39

industrial process for producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, using an iron catalyst and high temperature and pressures

Question 40

What's the main purpose of the haber process?

Answer 40

to manufacture agricultural fertilisers.

Question 41

humans affecting the nitrogen cycle: agriculture- fertiliser

Answer 41

nitrates in soil- leaching into water- eutrophication

Question 42

humans affecting the nitrogen cycle: agriculture- drainage

Answer 42

increases nitrification and reduces denitrification

Question 43

humans affecting the nitrogen cycle: agriculture- soil disturbance

Answer 43

ploughing- increases decomposition of DOM- ammonium into soil

Question 44

humans affecting the nitrogen cycle: agriculture- legummes

Answer 44

peas/beans/clover- to increase the levels of nitrogen in the soil

Question 45

Nitrogen cycle: pollution

Answer 45

combustion- causes nitrogen and oxygen to react- producing oxides of nitrogen to be released into the atmosphere

Question 46

consequences of nitrogen cycle changes: change= eutrophication

Answer 46

consequence= more nitrates in the water

Question 47

consequences of nitrogen cycle changes: change= global climate change photogeochemical smog

Answer 47

consequence= more NOx in the atmosphere

Question 48

What's the phosphorus cycle?

Answer 48

Phosphorus cycles between rocks, animals and plants and water- it has no gaseous phase because it has a low solubility.