Erik B.

Vocabulary Word Definition Image

biogeochemical cycles In ecology and Earth science, 

a biogeochemical cycle or 
substance turnover or cycling 
of substances is a pathway 
by which a chemical 
substance moves through 
biotic and abiotic 
compartments of Earth

fossil fuels A fossil fuel is a fuel formed 

by natural processes, such as 
anaerobic decomposition of 
buried dead organisms, 
containing energy originating 
in ancient photosynthesis. 
The age of the organisms 
and their resulting fossil fuels 
is typically millions of years, 
and sometimes exceeds 650 
million years.

global warming Global warming is the 

observed century-scale rise in 
the average temperature of 
the Earth's climate system 
and its related effects, as part 
of climate change. Multiple 
lines of scientific evidence 
show that the climate system 
is warming

runoff Surface runoff is the flow of 

water that occurs when 
excess stormwater, 
meltwater, or other sources 
flows over the Earth's 
surface.
groundwater Groundwater is the water 
present beneath Earth's 
surface in soil pore spaces 
and in the fractures of rock 
formations. A unit of rock or 
an unconsolidated deposit is 
called an aquifer when it can 
yield a usable quantity of 
water.

nitrogen fixation Nitrogen fixation is a process 

by which nitrogen in the 
Earth's atmosphere is 
converted into ammonia or 
related nitrogenous 
compounds. Atmospheric 
nitrogen, which is molecular 
dinitrogen, is relatively 
reactive and is metabolically 
useless to all but a few 
microorganisms.

transpiration Transpiration is the process 

of water movement through a 
plant and its evaporation 
from aerial parts, such as 
leaves, stems and flowers. 
Water is necessary for plants 
but only a small amount of 
water taken up by the roots is 
used for growth and 
metabolism. The remaining 
97–99.5% is lost by 
transpiration and guttation.

precipitation 1. the action or 

process of 
precipitating a 
substance from a 
solution. 
2. 2. 
3. rain, snow, sleet, or 
hail that falls to the 
ground. 
evaporation Evaporation is a type of 
vaporization that occurs on 
the surface of a liquid as it 
changes into the gas phase 
after reaching its boiling 
point. The surrounding gas 
must not be saturated with 
the evaporating substance

sublimation Sublimation is the transition 

of a substance directly from 
the solid to the gas phase, 
without passing through the 
intermediate liquid phase

condensation Condensation is the change 

of the physical state of 
matter from gas phase into 
liquid phase, and is the 
reverse of evaporation. The 
word most often refers to the 
water cycle

Water cycle The water cycle, also known 

as the hydrological cycle or 
the hydrologic cycle, 
describes the continuous 
movement of water on, above 
and below the surface of the 
Earth.

Carbon cycle The carbon cycle is the 

biogeochemical cycle by 
which carbon is exchanged 
among the biosphere, 
pedosphere, geosphere, 
hydrosphere, and atmosphere 
of the Earth. Carbon is the 
main component of 
biological compounds as well 
as a major component of 
many minerals such as 
limestone.
Nitrogen cycle The ''nitrogen cycle'' is the 
biogeochemical cycle by 
which nitrogen is converted 
into multiple chemical forms 
as it circulates among 
atmosphere, terrestrial, and 
marine ecosystems. The 
conversion of nitrogen can be 
carried out through both 
biological and physical 
processes.