Chapter 6, Lesson 4Cycles of Life

water cyclecarbon cyclenitrogen cyclewater vaporgroundwaterwatershedrunoffcompostingraw materials inexhaustible resource renewable resource non-renewable resource

Water Cycle – the continuous movement of water between the Earth’s

surface and the air, changing from liquid to gas to liquid.

Carbon Cycle – the continuous transfer of carbon between the atmosphere and living things. Just like water in the water cycle, carbon is renewed

in the carbon cycle.

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Nitrogen Cycle – the way nitrogen moves between the air, soil, plants, and

animals.

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Click on the picture for more information.

water vapor – water in its gas state

groundwater – water that seeps in and is stored in the ground

watershed – an area on which water runs downhill to a common stream, lake, or river

runoff – water that moves across the land, heading for low places, and eventually, the

ocean

composting – a process by which organic matter like leaves, plant materials, food scraps

and grass clippings breakdown to be used in the soil. The compost contains nitrogen, phosphorus,

and potassium, which help enrich the soil.

raw materials – things that are used to make products – wood, metals, sand,

oil are all raw materials

inexhaustible resource – a resource, like the sun, that will not run out

renewable resource – a resource, like plants and animals, that can be

grown, or produced to make more

nonrenewable resource – many raw materials, such as oil and metals

are non-renewable resources