1. Water Cycle: movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land and living things
condensation
precipitation
runoff
evaporation
groundwater

2. Water Cycle Notes
Evaporation – Sun’s energy causes water to change from a liquid to a gas
Condensation – water cools and changes from a gas to a liquid
Precipitation – Water that falls from the atmosphere as rain, sleet, hail, snow
Most precipitation falls into ocean
Runoff – precipitation that falls on land and flows into streams, rivers, and lakes
Groundwater – precipitation that seeps into the ground and is stored
Transpiration – process by which plants release water vapor back into the atmosphere

3. Water cycle notes: continued
Water is important because
Organisms are mainly composed of water
Water transports nutrients and wastes
Regulates temperatures
Slows down chemical reactions
Carries dissolved gases (CO2, O2)
Dissolves chemicals cells need

5. Carbon (carbon dioxide) and oxygen cycle

6. Carbon (carbon dioxide) and oxygen cycle notes
Organic molecules – molecules that contain carbon
Photosynthesis – basis of the carbon cycle
Use carbon dioxide from air to make sugar
Release oxygen to atmosphere
Cellular Respiration
Uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide into the air
Photosynthesis and Cellular respiration recycle oxygen and carbon dioxide

7. Carbon (carbon dioxide) and oxygen cycle notes continued
Decomposition
Fungi and bacteria break substances into simpler molecules and return carbon dioxide and water back to environment
Combustion
Process of burning a substance
Releases carbon dioxide into the air

9. Nitrogen cycle

10. Nitrogen cycle notes
Organisms cannot use nitrogen gas directly from atmosphere
In the process of Nitrogen Fixation, nitrogen fixing bacteria take nitrogen gas and make compounds that organisms can use
Legumes pass nitrogen into the food chain through consumers
Nitrogen gets back into the atmosphere through decay, bacteria, and wastes
Why is Nitrogen Important?
Nitrogen makes up part of DNA and proteins