Nitrogen Carbon Cycle Webquest

Name __________________________________________ Date _____________ Hour _______
Cycling WebQuest Spring:

Directions: Visit the following websites and answer the related questions. Your goal is to gain a
better understanding of the carbon and nitrogen cycles. You have studied the water cycle in previous
science courses so we don’t concentrate on it in Env. Sci. That doesn’t mean that it won’t be
mentioned as a part of the two cycles we do study.
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:
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html and
answer these questions:
1. Draw the carbon cycle:
2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
3. How are fossil fuels created?
4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?

6. How is the temperature of the Earth partly controlled by carbon?
7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
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?
“Click to begin your journey”
9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
10. By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
As you work through this game, take some notes about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you
visit all reservoirs!
The deep ocean
11. Next stop = _________________________________________ accounts for more
What did you learn? than _____ % of
the Earth’s
carbon.
How much carbon

does the surface
ocean absorb from
12. Next stop = _________________________________________ the atmosphere
What did you learn? each year?
True or False:
When plants die
and decay, they
bring carbon into
soil.
True or False:
13. Next stop = _________________________________________ Plants both absorb
What did you learn? CO2 from the
atmosphere and
release it into the
atmosphere.
True or False:
Phytoplankton are
14. Next stop = _________________________________________ tiny plants and
What did you learn? algae that float in
the ocean and take
up carbon dioxide
as they grow.
When carbon
15. Next stop = _________________________________________ enters the deep
What did you learn? ocean, how long
does it stay there?
_______________
Nitrogen Cycle:
Go to
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/nitrogencycle.html
and answer these questions.
16. What are the two conditions under which nitrogen will react with oxygen? (In other words,
what is necessary for nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen?)
17. What are the two compounds that are formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen?
18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?
19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?

Go to:
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/NitrogenCycle.html and
answer these questions.
20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?
21. Even though considerable nitrogen is available in the air, most plants do not use the nitrogen
(N2) found in the air. Why not?
22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?
23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?
24. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is pretty inert. This means that it does not easily break apart. When
molecules do not break apart easily, it is difficult (or impossible) for organisms to use them as a
nutrient source. As a result, nitrogen fixation is the term used to describe the process of
breaking up N2.
a. What is atmospheric fixation?
b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]
c. What is biological fixation? (In your answer, describe the types of plants associated
with the symbiotic relationship.)
Go to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html and answer these
questions.
25. Draw the nitrogen cycle. (Remember there are other diagrams on the previous websites.) If
you’re not sure what a term means, look through the reading and links for help.
26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?

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Name __________________________________________ Date _____________ Hour _______

Cycling WebQuest Spring:

1. Draw the carbon cycle:

2. How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?

3. How are fossil fuels created?

4. Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.

5. How are the oceans involved in the carbon cycle?

7. What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?

Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html to play the

8. Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?

“Click to begin your journey”

9. How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (CO2)?

How much carbon

18. How does nitric acid (HNO3) form?

19. Why is nitric acid (HNO3) important?

20. What percentage of the air we breathe is nitrogen?

22. In what compounds can plants use nitrogen?

23. How do animals get the nitrogen they need?

a. What is atmospheric fixation?

b. What is industrial fixation? [This is how artificial fertilizers are made.]

26. Why is nitrogen needed by plants and animals?

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