Name

Date

Hour

Let's Go Cycling!
An Earth Systems Webquest

The Earth is a system consisting of four major interacting components: Geosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere. Physical, chemical and biological processes act within and among the four components on a wide range of time scales to continuously change Earth’s crust, oceans, atmosphere, and living organisms. Earth elements move within and between the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as part of geochemical cycles.

Your job is to take a ride through these components and cycles. Explore, use the questions to become familiar with, and create a final product from one of these cycles. PICK TWO to EXPLORE.

There should be four or more bullets of information for each question (see toolbar above for bullets).

Go to: http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Geosphere.html to explore GEOSPHERE

GO TO http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Atmosphere.html to explore ATMOSPHERE

GO TO http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Hydrosphere.html to explore HYDROSPHERE

GO TO http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Introduction/Biosphere.html to explore BIOSPHERE

1) ____________-sphere:

A) Describe the major components.

B) Name how and where other spheres may interact with this one.

C) Describe how and where you (humans) may interact within or to this -sphere.

2) ____________-sphere:

A) Describe the major components.

B) Name how and where other spheres may interact with this one.

C) Describe how and where you (humans) may interact within or to this -sphere.

Now explore some of the biogeochemical cycles! ***********************************************

Go to: NITROGEN CYCLE http://www.cst.cmich.edu/centers/mwrc/nitrogen.htm

http://hydram.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_2/chapt_3/text.htm SCROLL to 3.5

OR OXYGEN CYCLE http://hydram.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_2/chapt_3/text.htm SCROLL to 3.3

3) Describe the major components in the cycle.

______________Cycle

4) Name how and where this cycle interacts with Earth’s Spheres.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_cycle

5) Describe how and where you (humans) may interact within or to this cycle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle

Go to: CARBON CYCLE http://hydram.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_2/chapt_3/text.htm SCROLL to 3.4

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/images/carboncycle_jpg_image.html

6) Describe the major components in the cycle.

7) Name how and where this cycle interacts with Earth’s Spheres.

8) Describe how and where you (humans) may interact within or to this cycle.

Go to: WATER CYCLE

http://students.estrellamountain.edu/drakuna/studentfrontpageprojects/DavidIreland/new_page_5.htm

9) Describe the major components in the cycle.

10) Name how and where this cycle interacts with Earth’s Spheres.

11) Describe how and where you (humans) may interact within or to this cycle.

12) NOW THAT YOU ARE DONE…GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK!

Simulations: Water cycle animations – Beginner, intermediate, and advanced (cycle, reservoirs, and residence time) from Dr. Art’s Planet Guide.

http://www.planetguide.net/book/chapter_2/water_cycle.html

EXTRA CREDIT ***********************************************************************

Go to: PHOSPHORUS CYCLE http://filebox.vt.edu/users/chagedor/biol_4684/Cycles/Pcycle.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus_cycle

http://hydram.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_2/chapt_3/text.htm SCROLL to 3.6

OR SULFUR CYCLE http://www.scienceclarified.com/Oi-Ph/Oxygen-Family.html SCROLL DOWN

http://hydram.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_2/chapt_3/text.htm SCROLL to 3.7

13) Describe the major components in the cycle.

14) Name how and where this cycle interacts with Earth’s Spheres.

15) Describe how and where you (humans) may interact within or to this cycle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_cycle

16) CHALLENGE: NOW that you have looked at FOUR different cycles, name how and where those cycles interact with each other.

EXTRA CREDIT ***********************************************************************

17) Finally, listen to the song Water Cycle Boogie by the Banana Slug String Band. Go to:

http://www.bananaslugstringband.com/

It’s on their Slugs at Sea album. The words are below:

Water Cycle Boogie

By the Banana Slug String Band

Chorus:

EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION, PRECIPITATION,

The Water Cycle Boogie goes round and round

The Water Cycle Boogie goes up and down.

The sun gives the water cycle power to spin,

The water goes up and down again

The surface of all water heats up with the sun

The vapor rises up and then the boogie's begun

What's that called? What's that called?

(It's EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION, PRECIPITATION ...)

Water holds together chemically

Hydrogen bonding is what you see

All those airborne vapors they squeeze together

To form a cloud that could change the weather

What's that called? What's that called?

(It's CONDENSATION, PRECIPITATION, EVAPORATION...)

All those dark clouds can't hold it together

Water boogies down bringing stormy weather

Fog, rain, hail, flurries, ice and sleet

Splish, splash and crunch underneath your feet

What's that called? What's that called?

(It's PRECIPITATION, EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION ...)

Two thirds of Earth is water, it's true

Gives life to every plant and animal, too

Respect water's power, only use your share

don't waste a drop, there's none to spare.

Let's do the water cycle boogie again,

Let's go around for another spin!

(EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION, PRECIPITATION ...)

So, you’ve made your way through a few cycles. Are you getting the hang of it?

Your final task is to create your own song or poem about one of the other cycles or spheres. Include in your lyrics the main components, and be sure to include some human interactions that can affect it. Be ready to perform it for the class.

Bonus points for motions to your song that involve the audience!