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Period:
Nutrient Cycle Computer Activities
First Activity - The Nitrogen Cycle
Link:
https://www.classzone.com/books/ml_science_share/vis_sim/em05_pg20_nitrogen/em05_pg20_nitrog
en.swf
Plants and animals cannot use pure nitrogen, what needs to happen first? _____________
___________________________________________________________________
Nitrogen moves from the soil to the plant. What does the plant then do with it?
__________________________________________________________________
How does an animal get nitrogen? _________________________________________
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How does nitrogen return to the soil? ______________________________________
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Second Activity - The Carbon Cycle Interactive Computer Game
Link: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html
You are a carbon atom. Read below to find out how to proceed:
For millions of years you were underground in fossil fuels. Now, you have been released into the
atmosphere as humans burn fuels. Did you know that 5000 megatons of carbon are released into
the atmosphere as fossil fuels are burned each year? In this game, you will travel the carbon
cycle. Your objective is to get to all the places that carbon is stored along this map. To advance
for step to step, click the arrows on the path. When an information box pops up, find that
section in the packet and fill in the blanks. You will encounter questions along the path on the
yellow stars, find that question on your page and answer it. Not all questions you cross will be in
this packet.
The Atmosphere
While you are here, little carbon atom, you will be stuck to two atoms of oxygen in a greenhouse
gas called _______________________. Only a small amount (0.04%) of the atmosphere is
made of carbon dioxide. Because of _____________________________, the amount has
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increased _______ in the past 150 years. More carbon dioxide in our atmosphere makes our
planet_____________.
1. Approximately how many Megatons of Carbon do humans produce by burning fossils fuels each
year? (1 Megaton = one million tons) ___________________________________
The Land Plants
You have been taken out of the atmosphere by a plant as it used the Sun's energy to make the
nutrition it needs (a process called __________________ ). You are now one of the building
blocks that make up a plant. As more carbon dioxide is added to our atmosphere, plants will be
able to grow faster. Plants also release carbon back to the atmosphere by
___________________.
1. True or False: If atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to increase, plants will take in
more carbon dioxide and grow faster. _________________
The Soil
We are afraid to say that the plant you were in has died. The good news is that, you are now a
part of the soil called _____________, which is _____________________ plants and
animals. Soil is also made of inorganic parts such as _________________________. Soils
store about 3% of Earth's carbon. As __________________________ breakdown the
detritus, carbon is sent into the atmosphere.
1. Soils store about ______ of the Earth's total carbon.
2. True or False: Soils emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. _________________
The Surface Ocean
Either you got here by diffusing from the atmosphere, by decomposing marine life, or from
circulating water from the deep ocean. The ocean absorbs __________ carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere than the land does. The surface ocean takes in approximately 90 Gigatons of
carbon per year. _______________ water absorbs carbon faster than warm water.
1. How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
____________________________________
2. True or False: When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels,
it makes the Earth colder. ______________
3. What percent of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide? ____________
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4. True or False: Carbon can't get from the deep ocean to soils on the land. There is a different
type of carbon on land. ______________
5. True or False: The Ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the land.
_________________
The Deep Ocean
The deep ocean gets carbon from __________________ with the Surface Ocean and
_______________ and __________________ marine life. When carbon gets to the deep
ocean, it usually stays there for _______________ of years before moving on. The deep ocean
holds more than ____________ of the Earth's ________________.
1. The deep ocean gets carbon from: ____________________________________
2. The deep ocean accounts for more than ___________ of the Earth's carbon.
The Marine Life
Tiny marine organisms called ______________________ take in carbon to make the nutrition
they need through a process called ____________________. The phytoplankton are eaten by
larger marine life. Marine life cannot survive without ________________, but high levels of
carbon dissolved in ocean waters are _______________________ to marine organisms such as
algae, mollusks and corals.
1. True or False: Too much carbon in seawater prevents clams, snails, and other sea animals from
growing their shells. ______________
Conclusion Questions:
1.
Will your journey ever end? _____________________
2. Was everyone’s journey the same? Why not? Answer in a complete sentence:
_____________________________________________________________
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3. What would happen if we burned more fossil fuels? __________________
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