ENVS195 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Municipal Solid Waste, Elution, Great Lakes Areas Of Concern
Document Summary
Matter has mass and takes up space. Law of conservation of matter: how matter is transformed, laws of thermodynamics explains energy low. Nutrients further classiied as macronutrients which are needed in relatively large amounts by all organisms, and micronutrients require lesser amounts. Biogeochemical cycles: nutrients are cycled continuously among diferent components of the ecosphere in characteristic paths. Gaseous cycles: have most matter in atmosphere. Sedimentary cycles: such as the phosphorous cycle, and sulphur cycles hold most of their matter in the lithosphere. Carbon dioxide gas constitutes only 0. 03% of the atmosphere. Main reservoir for the carbon that is building block for all necessary fats, proteins, and carbohydrates that constitute life. Plants take up carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis and at the same time emit oxygen. Carbon becomes incorporated into the biomass and is passed among the food chain.