Category: ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS)

Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 2: Thermal Convection Evidence (HS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), HE 1: Plate Tectonics (HS), HE 2: Geoscience (MS), HE 3: Mantle Convection (HS), History of Earth, W&C 3: Global Warming Causes (MS), Weather and Climate

CO2 emissions from subaerial volcanoes

GwynneL.

The emissions of CO2 and other volatiles from the world's subaerial volcanoes SUMMARY: Volcanoes play an important role in recycling carbon dioxide. This study takes a closer look at the amount emitted into the atmosphere by volcanoes that aren't underwater. Out of 900 volcanoes, only 500 have detectable degassing activity (i.e. they are emitting gases).… Continue reading CO2 emissions from subaerial volcanoes

E 1: Energy Flow (HS), E 3: Designing Energy Transfer (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, Energy, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Carrying Capacity (HS), Life Science, M&E 1: Photosynthesis (HS), M&E 1: Photosynthesis (MS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, W 1: Graphing Waves (MS), W 1: Wave Relationships (HS), W 2: Wave Behavior (MS)

Biomass from microalgae

GwynneL.

Biomass from microalgae: the potential of domestication towards sustainable biofactories SUMMARY: Microalgae could potentially be a renewable source of energy for people. Unfortunately, there are many issues right now with growing enough algae and keeping the process affordable (aka: it’s too expensive to grow and use algae commercially). The article is divided up into several… Continue reading Biomass from microalgae

Chemical Reactions, CR 4: Driving Reactions (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), Life Science, M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, S&F 1: Cells (MS), S&F 2: Cell Function (MS), Structure and Function

Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics

GwynneL.

Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics driving decomposition of the same leaf litter SUMMARY: This study looked at the rate of decay between litter in lab conditions and natural conditions. They used fallen leaves from dogwood trees, oak trees, maple trees, and maple-oak tree mix. Results showed quite a difference in… Continue reading Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics

Chemical Reactions, CR 2: Energy in Reactions (HS), E 1: Energy Flow (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, Energy, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), ES 5: Life on Earth (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), Life Science, M&E 3: Food Webs (MS), M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, W&C 2: Biomes (MS), W&C 2: Future Climate (HS), Weather and Climate

Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest

GwynneL.

Moss-cyanobacteria associations as biogenic sources of nitrogen in boreal forest ecosystems SUMMARY: Moss, cyanobacteria, and the trees of the boreal forest share a complicated relationship. This article first focuses on the nitrogen cycle, addressing the various sources of nitrogen and the factors (both abiotic and biotic) that affect nitrogen fixation. Turns out, temperature, water availability,… Continue reading Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), HE 3: Stratigraphic Records (MS), History of Earth, Inheritance & Variation of Traits, Inheritance 1: Mitosis (HS), Inheritance 4: Population Genetics (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), Life Science, M&E 1: Photosynthesis (HS), M&E 1: Photosynthesis (MS), M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Natural Selection & Evolution, NSE 1: Fossil Records (MS), NSE 5: Population Flux (HS)

The evolution of diatoms and their biogeochemical functions

GwynneL.

The evolution of diatoms and their biogeochemical functions SUMMARY: This article talks about the evolution, cell structure, and ecological role of diatoms. The first section is an introduction to what diatoms are. The second section talks about the evolution of photosynthesis (from cyanobacteria to eukaryotes with chloroplast). The third section explains the significance of the… Continue reading The evolution of diatoms and their biogeochemical functions

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), ES 5: Life on Earth (HS)

Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic

GwynneL.

Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic SUMMARY: In this experiment, the researchers sampled dead mesopelagic fish from the Northwest Atlantic Mid-Ocean area (between Ireland and Newfoundland). The water and the fish guts were strained for microplastics. Researchers found that 73% of the fish had microplastics in their stomach. Most of the… Continue reading Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic