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18 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Biogeochemical Cycle |
The cycling of a chemical element through the biosphere; its pathways, storage locations, and chemical forms in living things, the atmosphere, oceans, sediments, and lithosphere |
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Carbon Cycle |
Carbon combines with and is chemically and biologically linked with the cycles if oxygen and hydrogen that form the major compounds of life |
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Carbon-silicate Cycle |
A complex biogeochemical cycle that includes major geological processes, such as weathering, transport by ground an surface waters, erosion, and deposition of crustal rocks. (provides important negative feedback mechanisms that that control the temp of the atmosphere) |
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Chemical Reaction |
The process in which compounds and elements undergo a chemical change to become a new substance(s) |
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Denitrification |
The conversion of nitrate to molecular nitrogen by the action of bacteria (an important step in Nitrogen Cycle) |
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Drainage Basin |
The area that contributes surface water to a particular stream |
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Geological Cycle |
The formation and destruction of earth materials and the processes responsible for these events. Includes the following subcycles: hydrologic, tectonic, rock, and geochemical |
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Hydrological Cycle |
Circulation of water from the oceans to the atmosphere and back to the oceans by the way of evaporation, runoff from streams and rivers. and groundwater flow |
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Limiting Factor |
The single requirement for growth available in the least supply in comparison to the need of an organism |
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Macronutrients |
Elements required in large amounts by living things. Include big 6: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur |
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Micronutrients |
Chemical elements required in very small amounts by at least some forms of life. Examples: boron, copper, and molybdenum |
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Missing Carbon Sink |
The unknown location of substantial amounts of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere but not reabsorbed |
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Nitrogen Cycle |
A complex biogeochemical cycle responsible for moving important nitrogen components through the biosphere and other Earth systems. (important because nitrogen is required by all living things) |
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Nitrogen Fixation |
The process of converting inorganic, molecular nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia. Carried out by few bacteria in nature |
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Phosphorus Cycle |
A biogeochemical cycle involving the movement of phosphorus throughout the biosphere and lithosphere. (important because phosphorus is a limiting nutrient for plant growth) |
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Plate Tectonics |
A model that suggests that the outer layer of Earth (the lithosphere) is composed of several large plates that move relative to one another |
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Rock Cycle |
A group of processes that produce igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks |
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Tectonic Cycle |
The processes that change Earth's crust , producing external forms- (continents, mountains, basins) |
