Biogeochemical Cycles

What is groundwater?

• Water that is stored underground in soil and rock layers, accessible by plant roots and wells.

• Water that is found in rivers and lakes.

• Water that evaporates from the surface of the earth.

• Water that is used for irrigation only.

What are biogeochemical cycles?

• Natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment.

• Processes that only occur in aquatic ecosystems.

• Cycles that only involve physical changes in the environment.

• Human-made processes to manage waste and nutrients.

What is the role of decomposers in ecosystems?

• Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil and making them available for plants.

• Decomposers produce energy through photosynthesis for plants.

• Decomposers compete with plants for nutrients in the soil.

• Decomposers create new organic matter from inorganic substances.

How do volcanoes affect the carbon cycle?

• Volcanoes release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing the levels of CO2 and contributing to the greenhouse effect.

• Volcanoes absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the levels of CO2 and mitigating climate change.

• Volcanoes have no significant impact on the carbon cycle as they are inactive for long periods.

• Volcanoes only release water vapor and do not affect carbon dioxide levels.

What is the nitrogen cycle?

• The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, including fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.

• A method of measuring nitrogen levels in soil.

• A cycle that describes the movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere only.

• A process that involves the absorption of nitrogen by plants without any chemical changes.

What is the carbon cycle?

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

• A method of carbon capture and storage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• The process of carbon being released into the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions.

• A cycle that describes the movement of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide between the ocean and the atmosphere.

What are fossil fuels?

• Natural substances formed from the remains of ancient organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas, used as energy sources.

• Renewable energy sources derived from solar and wind power.

• Minerals extracted from the earth's crust for construction purposes.

• Synthetic materials created in laboratories for industrial use.

What is decomposition?

• Decomposition is the process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter, releasing nutrients back into the environment.

• Decomposition is the process of combining different substances to create a new compound.

• Decomposition refers to the process of photosynthesis in plants.

• Decomposition is the method of recycling inorganic materials into organic matter.

What is the significance of the water cycle?

• It is the process of water evaporating and falling as rain.

• It is essential for distributing water across the planet, supporting all forms of life and influencing climate and weather patterns.

• It only affects ocean currents and marine life.

• It is primarily important for agricultural irrigation.

What is photosynthesis?

• A process by which plants absorb water from the soil.

• A method used by animals to breathe oxygen.

• The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods with chlorophyll, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

• A technique for growing plants in artificial environments.