1. Cycles in Nature

2. The Cycles of Matter
Four cycles that moves matter among the environment and living things
Water cycle
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorous Cycle

3. The Water Cycle

4. The Water Cycle
The movement of water among oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things.
Precipitation- water moving from atmosphere to land
Ex: rain, snow, sleet, hail
91% falls into the ocean, 9% on land renews fresh water supply

5. The Water Cycle
Evaporation- water moving from the land to the atmosphere
The sun’s heat causes water to change from liquid to vapor
Condensation- water vapor becoming liquid again due to cool atmosphere
Transpiration- water moving from living things back into the atmosphere
Ex: evaporation from leaves, perspiration from humans

6. The Water Cycle
Ground Water- precipitation that seeps into the ground and is stored in underground caverns and porous rock
Provides water for the soil, streams, rivers, and oceans
Our water supply is not getting larger so we must protect our fresh water from pollution!!

8. The Carbon Cycle

9. The Carbon Cycle
The movement of carbon from the environment into living things and back again
Carbon is essential to all living things because it is part of our molecules.

10. The Carbon Cycle
Photosynthesis- carbon moves from the environment into living things
Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to make sugar
Animals get carbon from eating plants
Respiration- carbon moves from living things back to the environment
Sugar molecules are broken down to release energy and carbon dioxide is given off when we exhale

11. The Carbon Cycle
Decomposition- carbon moving from dead organisms back to the environment
Fungi and bacteria decompose dead organisms
Combustion- the process of burning fuel
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon back into the atmosphere

13. The Nitrogen Cycle

14. The Nitrogen Cycle
The movement of nitrogen from the environment to living things and back again.
78% of our atmosphere is nitrogen gas
Nitrogen fixation- the process of bacteria changing nitrogen gas into usable nitrogen for plants
Animals get nitrogen from eating plants
Other bacteria decompose dead animals and animal waste and return nitrogen to the atmosphere

15. Nitrogen Cycle Importance?
Animal and Plants need it (Protein/Nucleic Acid)
Plants (and animals) can’t use N gas!
Processes - that put N into a usable form.
Takes place in the Atmosphere & Lithosphere.
In Air: Lightning strikes convert N into a usable form
Nitrogen Fixation (by bacteria in soil)
In soil: Some Bacteria in symbiosis with Legumes in their root nodules
In soil: Some bue-green Algae in soil