1. Water, Carbon, and Nitrogen
Cycles of Matter
Water, Carbon, and Nitrogen

2. The Water Cycle

3. Water from oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water re-enters the atmosphere through evaporation.

4. Precipitation Water that has condensed in the air forms clouds.
Drops fall to Earth and accumulate in oceans and lakes.
Precipitation

5. Plants and animals return water to environment through transpiration.
Animals return water to ground and bodies of water through urine.
Transpiration

6. The Water Cycle Create a key to label the diagram.
Add arrows to show the directionality of the water through the system.
Draw an example of transpiration and in your diagram and label it in the key.
Adapted from
The Water Cycle

7. The Water Cycle Key Sun (energy) Cloud Evaporation Precipitation Ocean
Transpiration
The Water Cycle Key

8. The Sun __________water from oceans and lakes
The Sun __________water from oceans and lakes. As the air rises, it __________. The water __________into tiny droplets of water. The droplets crowd together and form a __________. Wind blows the cloud toward the land. The tiny droplets join together and fall as __________to the ground. The water soaks into the ground and __________in rivers and lakes. The __________never ends and starts again.
The Water Cycle

9. The Sun evaporates water from oceans and lakes
The Sun evaporates water from oceans and lakes. As the air rises, it cools. The water condenses into tiny droplets of water. The droplets crowd together and form a cloud. Wind blows the cloud toward the land. The tiny droplets join together and fall as precipitation to the ground. The water soaks into the ground and collects in rivers and lakes. The cycle never ends and starts again.
The Water Cycle

10. The Carbon Cycle

11. Plants use CO2 from the atmosphere to make high-energy carbon molecules.
Photosynthesis

12. CO2 is released through aerobic respiration (breathing, for example).

13. CO2 is exchanged between the air and water.
Gas Exchange

14. When organisms die and decay, the carbon molecules in them enter the soil.
Microorganisms break down the molecules, releasing CO2.
Decomposition

15. Remains of dead organisms are converted into fossil fuels (over millions of years!)
Combustion of fossil fuels and wood releases CO2.
Pollution

16. Label the diagram using the numbers in the notes to indicate each step in the cycle.
The Carbon Cycle

18. The Nitrogen Cycle

19. Nitrogen In the Air
Lightning and bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates (NO3) and ammonia (NH3)
The air we breathe is about 78% nitrogen in the form of N2 gas and about 21% oxygen in the form of O2 gas.

20. Nitrogen in Plants
Plants receive their nitrogen through the soil and water.

21. Nitrogen in Animals
When animals die their decomposing bodies add the nitrogen back into the soil.
Animals also add nitrogen to the soil through feces.
Animals receive nitrogen from the plants they eat or from other animals that eat plants.

22. Nitrogen compounds break down into gas and return to air.
Return to Atmosphere

23. Nitrogen in Soil and Water
Runoff of nitrates in fertilizers enters groundwater and soil.
Denitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle where nitrogen is released back into the atmosphere.
Nitrates are water-soluble and leach out of the soil, flowing into groundwater and collecting in lakes and wetlands.

24. Man and Pollution
Man made pollution such as vehicle exhaust, power-plant exhaust, man made fertilizers and large-animal feeding operations are all sources of nitrogen emissions.
Nitrous Oxide from burning fossil fuels falls as Nitric Acid in rainwater.

25. Label the diagram using the numbers in the notes above to indicate each step in the cycle.
Add examples for 4 and 6.
The Nitrogen Cycle