Biogeochemical Cycles, El Niño/El Niña & Milankovitch Cycles

Front

What is the Carbon Cycle?

Back

o A biogeochemical cycle in which photosynthesis occurs. The oxygen and glucose made from photosynthesis is converted into CO2 and H20. The plants then decompose to release carbon, and fossil fuels burn to also release carbon.

o Ex. Coal burning

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Front

What is the Sulfur Cycle?

Back

o Organic sulfur is converted into inorganic sulfur. Inorganic sulfur is oxidized into sulfate. Sulfate is converted into sulfide. Sulfate is then incorporated into organic compounds.

o Ex. Rocks being broken down/weathered

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

What is the Nitrogen Cycle?

Back

o N2 gas is converted into organic compounds. Nitrogen gets assimilated by plants and gets eaten by animals. The waste then gets decomposed, and the waste holds ammonia, which gets decomposed by nitrifying bacteria into nitrates. Those nitrates get turned back into nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria.

o Ex. soil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Front

What is the Phosphorus Cycle?

Back

o Rock gets broken down by rain and wind. Then, plants uptake the phosphate before getting eated by animals. Animals then excrete waste and the plants die off.

o Ex. Fertilizer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Front

What are sources?

Back

o Releases a substance

o Ex. Clouds, Runoff, Tornados

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are sinks?

Back

o Holds a substance in place

o Ex. Oceans, rivers, swamps

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Front

What are El Niño events?

Back

o When the sea surface temperature increases from strong winds

Ex. increase of flooding and/or droughts or new fish being brought over

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are El Niña events?

Back

o Stronger winds that makes it colder in northern areas

Ex. Nutrients coming back up

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are Milankovitch Cycles?

Back

o Changes in how the Earth moves

Ex. Tilt, orbit shape, and wobbling

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6