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Name:____Rafael Padilla____ 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) 2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere? It exist in the atmosphere because it is always on the move. 3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain. When animals and plants die they decompose under the ground and in the years to come they will become fossil fuels. 4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere. Carbon enters the atmosphere when living things exhale and release carbon dioxide. Another way is when we burn fossil fuels most of the carbon quickly gets release into the atmosphere. 5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle? Most of the oceans soak up the carbon in the atmosphere. 6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon? Carbon dioxide and gasses dont let the heat from getting out into space but traps the heat with us instead. 7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle? Many rocks store gases and keep it inside them for a long time then over time release into the atmosphere.

8 Where are you starting within the carbon cycle? underground in fossil fuels. Click to begin your journey 9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO)? About .04% is release. 10. By how much has (CO2)? by 30% increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years? More carbon makes our planet warmer. 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 surface ocean takes in about 90 gigatons per year. 12. Next stop = _______________Deep Ocean_______________ What did you learn? I learned that carbon usually stays in the deep ocean for hundreds of years. The deep ocean accounts for more than 65% of the Earths carbon. How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year? 90 gigatons per year. True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil. True 13. Next stop = ___________________Marine Life___________________ What did you learn? I learned that marine life cannot survive without carbon, but high levels of carbon is harmful to marine life.

14. Next stop = _________Land Plants___________________________ What did you learn? I learned that the more carbon dioxide enters the earths atmosphere the faster plants will grow. 15. Next stop = __________Soil____________________________ What did you learn? I learned soil stores 3% of earths carbon and as bacteria and fungi is broken down carbon is then released. When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there? For 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 True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere? False 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?) In the presence of high temperature and pressures in lightning bolts. 17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen? The two compounds are Nitric and nitrous oxides. 18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form? Nitrogen dioxide may react with water in rain to form nitric acid. 19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important? Nitric acid produces fertilizer for plants.

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% nitrogen gas. 21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen(N2) found in the air. Why not? It is needed to converted into nitrogen compounds. 22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen? In both the soil and the ocean. 23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need? Ny proteins.(amino acids) 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 process by which nitrogen is converted into ammonia. b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.] The process that causes nitrogen to mix with other elements to form compounds like ammonia, nitrates, nitrites. c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated with the symbiotic relationship.) Bacteria is able to fix nitrogen to become an organic nitrogen. 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 youre not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.

26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals? Nitrogen is part of amino acids which gives plants and animals proteins. Go to http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/cycle/index.htm. Answer the following questions.

1. Define "water cycle". A cycle in which water makes a full cycle through precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration. 2. What fraction of the Earths surface is covered in water? three-fourths of our surface is covered in water. 3. What percentage of all the Earths water is in a form that is useable to humans and land animals? 97% is usable by humans and land animals. 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? During the process of evaporation it impures the water left behind. 3. Condensation occurs when a ______Gas______ is changed into a __Liquid_____. 4. Condensation is the opposite of _____Evaporation_______. 5. When the _____Droplets_____ and ____Condensation____ are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs. 6. Define transpiration: The emission of water vapor from leaves of plants. 7. Define percolation: Rainwater going through soil. 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. Water is evaporated from the Earth and it forms clouds by condensation. After the water forms clouds it is later release into the ocean by precipitation. Then the cycle begins all over again. 2. What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid, or gas? It is mostly determined by temperature. 3. Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount? The amount of water is constant amount on Earth.

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