Carbon and Water Cycle Vocabulary Definitions

Definition: direct transformation of solid water (like snow or ice) into water vapor (gas) without melting into liquid water first

• percolation

• condensation

• saturation

• sublimation

Definition: process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere from their leaves, stems, and flowers

• respiration

• condensation

• photosynthesis

• transpiration

Definition: Any location where carbon is stored

• Carbon reservoir

• Nitrogen reservoir

• Carbon enhancement

• Carbon sink

Definition: the process where surface water moves downwards into the soil and rock layers beneath

• condensation

• evaporation

• diffusion

• infiltration

Definition: process where water moves downwards through soil and porous rock due to gravity, eventually reaching the groundwater or aquifer

• percolation

• sedimentation

• evaporation

• sublimation

Definition: Energy in the form of heat or light, most commonly a flame

• evaporation

• combustion

• transpiration

• oxidation

Definition: an underground geological formation, often composed of porous rock and sediment, that stores and transmits groundwater

• aqulfer

• aquiclude

• aqueduct

• aquitard

Definition: pollution that originates from a single, identifiable, and often discrete source

• Nonpoint Source pollution

• Mobile Source pollution

• Non-point Source pollution

• Point Source pollution

Definition: Process in which plants use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose

• chemosynthesis

• combustion

• photosynthesis

• evaporation

Process of breaking down dead organic matter into simpler substances

• Infiltration

• decomposition

• evaporation

• denitrification