Vocabulary Word Definition Image

biogeochemical cycles The flow of chemical

elements and
compounds between
living organisms and
the physical
environment.Chemical
s absorbed or
ingested by
organisms are passed
through the food
chain and returned to
the soil, air, and
water by such
mechanisms as
respiration, excretion,
and decomposition.
As an element moves
through this cycle, it
often forms
compounds with other
elements as a result
of metabolic
processes in living
tissues and of natural
reactions in the
atmosphere,
hydrosphere, or
lithosphere. See

fossil fuels A hydrocarbon f​ uel​, such 

as petroleum, coal, or 
natural gas, derived from 
the accumulated remains 
of ancient plants and 
animals and used as f​ uel​. 
Carbon dioxide and other 
greenhouse gases 
generated by burning f​ ossil 
fuels​ are considered to be 
one of the principal causes 
of global warming.
global warming a gradual increase in the 
overall temperature of the 
earth's atmosphere generally 
attributed to the greenhouse 
effect caused by increased 
levels of carbon dioxide, 
chlorofluorocarbons, and 
other pollutants.

runoff a further competition, 

election, race, etc., 
after a tie or 
inconclusive result. 
 
the draining away of 
water (or substances 
carried in it) from the 
surface of an area of 
land, a building or 
structure, etc. 

groundwater water held underground in 

the soil or in pores and 
crevices in rock.

nitrogen fixation the chemical processes by 

which atmospheric nitrogen 
is assimilated into organic 
compounds, especially by 
certain microorganisms as 
part of the nitrogen cycle.
transpiration Transpiration​ is the 
process where plants 
absorb water through the 
roots and then give off 
water vapor through pores 
in their leaves. An example 
of ​transpiration​ is when a 
plant absorbs water in its 
roots.

precipitation the action or process 

of precipitating a 
substance from a 
solution. 
. 
rain, snow, sleet, or 
hail that falls to the 
ground. 

evaporation e process of turning from 

quid into vapor. 
now cover prevents 
vaporation of water from the 
oil" 
● the process of 
something abstract 
ceasing to exist. 
● "thousands of 
employees witnessed 
the rapid evaporation 
of their retirement 
plans" 

sublimation When anything solid turns 

into a gas without first 
becoming liquid, that's 
sublimation​. When the 
surface layer of snow or 
ice turns into fog or steam 
 without melting, this is an 
example of s​ ublimation​. 
The verb s
​ ublimation​ is 
from the Latin word 
sublimare,​meaning​ “raised 
to a higher status.”

condensation water that collects as 

droplets on a cold 
surface when humid 
air is in contact with 
it. 
synonyms:  moisture​, water dro
stem​"windows mis
condensation" 
. 
the conversion of a 
vapor or gas to a 
liquid. 
syn precipitation​, liquef
ony "the condensation o
ms: 

Water cycle the cycle of processes by 

which water circulates 
between the earth's oceans, 
atmosphere, and land, 
involving precipitation as rain 
and snow, drainage in 
streams and rivers, and 
return to the atmosphere by 
evaporation and 
transpiration.

Carbon cycle 1. the series of 

processes by 
which carbon 
compounds are 
interconverted in 
the environment, 
chiefly involving 
the incorporation 
of carbon dioxide 
into living tissue by 
photosynthesis 
and its return to 
 the atmosphere 
through 
respiration, the 
decay of dead 
organisms, and the 
burning of fossil 
fuels. 

Nitrogen cycle the series of processes by 

which nitrogen and its 
compounds are 
interconverted in the 
environment and in living 
organisms, including nitrogen 
fixation and decomposition.