Category: ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS)

Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems

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

Chemical Reactions, CR 1: Determining Chemical Reactions (MS), CR 4: Driving Reactions (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), Human Sustainability, Life Science, M&E 2: Metabolism (MS), M&E 4: Aerobic/Anaerobic Resp. (HS), 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&P 4: Molecule Traits (HS), Structure & Properties of Matter

Impacts of Biogeochemical Redox Processes

GwynneL.

Biogeochemical Redox Processes and their Impact on Contaminant Dynamics SUMMARY: Reduction and oxidation reactions are the drivers behind many biological processes. Energy is both stored and transferred through these reactions. This article talks about the various redox reactions that can occur, both biotically and abiotically, and how that affects both biogeochemical cycles and contaminants. The… Continue reading Impacts of Biogeochemical Redox Processes

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

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 2: Hydrological Cycle (MS), ES 3: Earth's Resources (MS), ES 3: Hydrological Cycle (HS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), ES 5: Life on Earth (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), 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, W&C 2: Biomes (MS), Weather and Climate

Protozoa and plant growth: the microbial loop in soil revisited

GwynneL.

Protozoa and plant growth: the microbial loop in soil revisited (NOT OPEN ACCESS) SUMMARY: This is an in-depth review on the rhizosphere and the interactions between protozoa, nematodes, and plant roots. LESSON COMMENTS: This can be read like a textbook for students. Alternatively, teachers can assign relevant sections. The rhizosphere can be grown and observed… Continue reading Protozoa and plant growth: the microbial loop in soil revisited

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 2: Hydrological Cycle (MS), ES 3: Hydrological Cycle (HS), HSus 1: Human Activity (HS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), HSus 3: Human/Ecosystem Interactions (HS), HSus 5: Showing Human Impact (HS), Human Sustainability

Investigating Microplastics on Land

GwynneL.

Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems (NOT OPEN ACCESS) SUMMARY: Though there has been a lot of research on microplastics in aquatic environments, there aren’t studies looking into the effects of microplastics on land. Researchers in this article suspect that there may be more microplastics on land than in the oceans; organisms that… Continue reading Investigating Microplastics on Land