Cycling WebQuest
Directions:
Visit the following websites and answer the related questions. Your goal is to
gain a better understanding of the carbon and nitrogen
cycles.
Background:
In biogeochemical cycles
(including carbon, water and nitrogen cycles), elements
are transported between the atmosphere, biosphere (living things),
hydrosphere (water), and geosphere (rocks, minerals, and soils). These cycles help us remember that
Earth is a complex system.
Carbon Cycle:
questions:
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
Carbon is attached to oxygen making it carbon dioxide. Through photosynthesis,
it is pulled from the air to make food for the plant.
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
When plants and animals die, their bodies decay and the carbon from their body
goes into the ground. An after millions of years, there body goes deeper underground
and becomes fossil fuel.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
oceans
soil
5.How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
the oceans influence the climate by absorbing and storing the carbon dioxide
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
The carbon in the atmosphere traps heat and causes the planet to become warmer
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
The shells and bones of marine animals are made of limestone, which contains
carbon. If deposited on the ocean floor, the carbon is then stored from the
cycle until the limestone melts in subduction zone
Go to
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon
cycle
game. You are a carbon atom!
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
I start of underground.
“Click to begin your journey”
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
0.04%
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
By 30%
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you
go as a carbon atom. Make sure
you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = Surface Ocean
What did you learn?
*Either you got here by diffusing from the atmosphere, by decomposing marine life, or from circulating water from the deep ocean.
*The ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the land does.
12. Next stop = Deep Ocean
What did you learn?
*When carbon gets to the deep ocean, it usually stays there for hundreds of years before moving on.
*The deep ocean holds more than 65% of the Earth's carbon
The deep ocean accounts for more than (65%) of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
*90 Gigatons of carbon per year
True or False:
When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
*True
13. Next stop = Marine Life
What did you learn?
*Marine life cannot survive without carbon, but high levels of carbon dissolve in ocean waters are harmful to marine organisms such as algae, mollusks and corals.
14. Next stop = Land Plants
What did you learn?
*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 respiration.
15. Next stop = Soil
What did you learn?
*Soil is also made of inorganic parts such as sand, silt, and clay.
*Soils store about 3% of Earth's carbon.
*As bacteria and fungi breakdown the detritus, carbon is sent into the atmosphere.
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
*Hundreds of years
True or False:
Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon ,dioxide as they grow.
True
True or False:
Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
True
Directions:
Visit the following websites and answer the related questions. Your goal is to
gain a better understanding of the carbon and nitrogen
cycles.
Background:
In biogeochemical cycles
(including carbon, water and nitrogen cycles), elements
are transported between the atmosphere, biosphere (living things),
hydrosphere (water), and geosphere (rocks, minerals, and soils). These cycles help us remember that
Earth is a complex system.
Carbon Cycle:
questions:
1. Draw the carbon cycle (on a separate piece of paper)
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
Carbon is attached to oxygen making it carbon dioxide. Through photosynthesis,
it is pulled from the air to make food for the plant.
3. How are fossil fuels created? Explain.
When plants and animals die, their bodies decay and the carbon from their body
goes into the ground. An after millions of years, there body goes deeper underground
and becomes fossil fuel.
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
oceans
soil
5.How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?
the oceans influence the climate by absorbing and storing the carbon dioxide
6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
The carbon in the atmosphere traps heat and causes the planet to become warmer
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
The shells and bones of marine animals are made of limestone, which contains
carbon. If deposited on the ocean floor, the carbon is then stored from the
cycle until the limestone melts in subduction zone
Go to
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the carbon
cycle
game. You are a carbon atom!
8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
I start of underground.
“Click to begin your journey”
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
0.04%
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
By 30%
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you
go as a carbon atom. Make sure
you visit all reservoirs!
11. Next stop = Surface Ocean
What did you learn?
*Either you got here by diffusing from the atmosphere, by decomposing marine life, or from circulating water from the deep ocean.
*The ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the land does.
12. Next stop = Deep Ocean
What did you learn?
*When carbon gets to the deep ocean, it usually stays there for hundreds of years before moving on.
*The deep ocean holds more than 65% of the Earth's carbon
The deep ocean accounts for more than (65%) of the Earth’s carbon.
How much carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
*90 Gigatons of carbon per year
True or False:
When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
*True
13. Next stop = Marine Life
What did you learn?
*Marine life cannot survive without carbon, but high levels of carbon dissolve in ocean waters are harmful to marine organisms such as algae, mollusks and corals.
14. Next stop = Land Plants
What did you learn?
*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 respiration.
15. Next stop = Soil
What did you learn?
*Soil is also made of inorganic parts such as sand, silt, and clay.
*Soils store about 3% of Earth's carbon.
*As bacteria and fungi breakdown the detritus, carbon is sent into the atmosphere.
When carbon enters the deep ocean, how long does it stay there?
*Hundreds of years
True or False:
Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up carbon ,dioxide as they grow.
True
True or False:
Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and release it into the atmosphere.
True