Biogeochemical Cycles Activity

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Nitrogen Fixation

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The process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia or related nitrogenous compounds in soil. This is essential for plants as they cannot use atmospheric nitrogen directly.

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Uplift

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The geological process where Earth's crust is raised due to tectonic forces, leading to the formation of mountains and influencing the biogeochemical cycles by altering landscapes.

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Ammonification

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The process by which organic nitrogen (from dead plants and animals) is converted into ammonia by decomposers, making nitrogen available for plants.

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Surface Runoff

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Water that flows over the ground surface and returns to bodies of water, which can carry nutrients and pollutants, including fertilizers, into aquatic ecosystems.

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Fertilizer Runoff

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The process where excess fertilizers applied to crops wash away into nearby water bodies, leading to nutrient pollution and potential algal blooms.

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Nitrification

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The biological process in which ammonia is converted into nitrites and then into nitrates, which are forms of nitrogen that plants can absorb.

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Biogeochemical Cycle

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The cycle that describes the movement of elements and compounds through biological, geological, and chemical processes in the environment.

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Carbon Cycle

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The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, including photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.

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Phosphorus Cycle

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The cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, crucial for DNA and energy transfer in living organisms.

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Decomposition

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The process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter, essential for nutrient recycling in ecosystems.