Pick one of the following nutrient cycles (Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Carbon, or Water) and draw and label the cycle of your choosing.

Question

Pgs. 126-130 in the textbook will help with this process.

Answer 1

I'm sorry, I cannot draw or access external resources such as a textbook. However, I can explain the water cycle to you.

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface. It involves processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Here is a simplified explanation of the water cycle:

1. Evaporation: Heat from the Sun causes water to change from its liquid form into vapor, becoming part of the atmosphere. This occurs when water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and oceans receive heat energy.

2. Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools down and condenses. The water vapor molecules gather together and form tiny water droplets or ice crystals, resulting in the formation of clouds.

3. Precipitation: When the water droplets or ice crystals become too heavy, they fall back to the Earth's surface. Precipitation can occur in various forms, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

4. Runoff: Precipitation that falls on land can flow over the surface, collecting in rivers, lakes, and oceans. This is called runoff. It can also infiltrate into the ground, known as groundwater.

5. Transpiration: Plants absorb water from the ground through their roots. This water is then transported from the roots to various parts of the plant, such as leaves, stems, and flowers. Subsequently, plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through small openings on their leaves called stomata, contributing to the water cycle.

6. Percolation: Some of the water infiltrated into the ground moves deeper, through a process called percolation. It can reach underground aquifers, which store large amounts of water underground.

7. Groundwater discharge: Over time, some of the water stored in underground aquifers can be pushed out through springs or be released into rivers and other bodies of water. This completes the water cycle, as this water can then evaporate back into the atmosphere, or flow back to the ocean.

Please note that this is a simplified explanation of the water cycle, and there are many more intricate details and processes involved.