The Nitrogen Cycle: Processes, Players, and Human Impact Nitrogen is one of the primary nutrients critical for the survival of all living organisms. Although nitrogen is very abundant in the atmosphere, it is largely inaccessible in this form to most organisms. This article explores how nitrogen becomes available to organisms and what changes in nitrogen levels as a result of human activity means to local and global ecosystems. Introduction Nitrogen is one of the primary nutrients critical for
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Fatty acids are composed of a hydrophilic carboxylic acid group attached to a fatty hydrophobic chain of carbon atoms, referred to as the fatty tail. The fatty acids are classified as either saturated or unsaturated depending on the structure. Saturated fatty acids contain only single bonds with hydrogen atoms throughout the length of the carbon chain fatty tail and are therefore considered saturated with hydrogen. The regular structure of saturated fatty acid molecules makes it possible for them
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Analysis of DNA samples to identify individuals by characteristics of their DNA, known as DNA profiling, is used in forensic science to establish the guilt or innocence of criminal suspects, to identify victims, to determine paternity, and to contribute to basic research. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to replicate certain regions of the DNA sample. The short tandem repeat (STR) analysis is used to compare the length of STR sequences at specific sites in the genome. In the restriction
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physical and chemical controls on the ocean's biological pump. The oceans, biological pump involves the photosynthetic fixation of carbon in the upper photic zone followed by the downward flux, through the water column, of dissolved material. The oceans absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by photosynthetic assimilation. Ultimately this assimilated carbon is transported to depth, down through the aphotic zone, as particulate matter sinks to the depths. Although a considerable amount of
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IN THE PAST 5 • Article 1: Volcanism • Article 2: Orbital variation • Article 3: Solar output • Article 4: Plate tectonic • Article 5: Solar radiation III. Theory2: THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT 7 • Article1: Carbon Dioxide • Article2: Methane • Article Ni trous Oxide • Article Ozone • Article4: Synthetic Chemicals • Article 5: Aerosols IV. Theory3: EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING 13 • Article 1: Weather • Article 2: Ice Sheets
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surface of the Earth and back to space, with only a small percent absorbed by clouds and bodies of water. However, with the increase of pollutants, like carbon dioxide, changes in the cycle occur. The carbon dioxide acts like a blanket, trapping in most of the rays of our grand light bulb. The heat cannot escape the atmosphere. Removing carbon dioxide out of the air is complicated by the amount of pollution we release per day. Not enough is removed compared to the amount we produce. Danger lurks
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is also important in the exchange of carbon dioxide to oxygen, 2 very important inorganic compounds needed for all life forms. Process of photosynthesis: Heterotrophs, like fungi and animals, must consume to survive, but autotrophs, like plants, algae, and cynobacteria, make their own food. In other words, plants do not grow from absorbing nutrients from the soil, but they also use the process of photosynthesis to make food. Plants “breath in” carbon dioxide (a raw material for photosynthesis)
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250 cm each year. Because the sun is directly hitting the rainforest, when the sun warms the ground and sea the water evaporates into the air. Warm air vapor and cold ail vapor form eventually causing clouds to form resulting to rain. This water cycle constantly repeats itself. Rain occurs more than 90 days a year in a rainforest. The rainforest consist of mainly trees and animals, trees can reach up to 164 feet in height. Because of the climate plants such as ferns and mosses or epiphytes,
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that keeps the earth at temperatures that are livable. Energy from the sun warms the earth when its heat rays are absorbed by greenhouse gasses and become trapped in the atmosphere. Some of the most common greenhouse gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. If there were no greenhouse gasses, very few rays would be absorbed and the earth would be extremely cold. When too many rays are absorbed, the earth?s atmosphere starts to warm, which leads to global warming. Global warming
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state suffers from too many security, safety, and environmental exposure problems and excessive costs to qualify as a leading means to combat global warming pollution. Large-scale nuclear plants remain uneconomic to build. And while the nuclear fuel cycle emits little global warming pollution, nuclear power still poses globally significant risks that need to be further reduced, including: • Diversion of “peaceful” nuclear facilities and materials to secret nuclear weapons programs; • Theft and terrorist
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