Human Influences on Chemical Cycles

Just as energy flows between living and non-living parts of the environment, so do specific forms of matter. Water is a basic requirement for all living things on Earth and it moves through the environment via the water cycle. Other important cycles include the carbon and nitrogen cycles. All of these cycles are essential for life, and represent a natural form of recycling.

Review the Unit 6 Seminar resources.

http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/genEd/SC200/1605A/SC200_U6_Seminar_Resources.pdf

Come to Seminar prepared to discuss the following with your classmates:

1. Is the earth an open or closed system? Explain your reasoning.
2. Provide an example for each of the following:
   1. How the water cycle is essential to living organisms?
   2. How the nitrogen cycle is essential to living organisms?
   3. How the carbon cycle is essential to living organisms?
3. Provide examples of how the matter in each of the three cycles exists in
   1. The living parts of ecosystems
   2. The non-living parts of ecosystems
4. What processes allow these forms of matter to cycle from one location to another, or between the living and non-living parts of the environment?
5. How could human behaviors and rising human populations impact these cycles?
6. Using the carbon and nitrogen cycles, hypothesize the likely sources of increased levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides within the atmosphere.
7. Provide at least two potential solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the challenges associated with implementing these solutions.

Option 2- Alternative Assignment:

Write and submit a short paper. In a 400-word paper, discuss the questions posed in the Seminar description above. APA format and must pass a plagiazer checker