Environmental Science p.128

Describe how the burning of fossil fuels affects the carbon cycle

When we burn fossil fuels, we release carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide too much excess CO2 not absorbed by plants leads to global warming

Explain how the use of fertilizer affects the nitrogen cycle and the phosphorous cycle

Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous, which in normal amounts help plants grow bigger faster, will run off in the groundwater rapid overgrowth of algae, called algae bloom. this can deplete lakes and river of nutrients and hurt their ecosysystems

Describe the 2 processes of the carbon cylcle

In one, carbon enters a short term cycle when producers convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into carbohydrates during photosynthesis when consumers eat the producers, they contain carbon from these carbohydrates. They break down the food during cellular respiration, releasing the carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In a long term cycle, carbon may be converted into carbonates, which make up the hard parts of bones and shells. Because they do not break down easily, over millions of years these carbonate deposits for huge deposits of limestone.

Explain why the phosphorous cycle occurs more slowly than both the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle

the phosphorous cycle occurs more slowly because phosphorous rarely occurs as a gas.