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| A process by which matter cycles from the living world to the nonliving physical environment and back again. |
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| The worldwide circulation of carbon from the abiotic environment and back into the abiotic environment. |
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| Combustible deposits in Earth's crust. Fossil fuels are composed of the remnants of prehistoric organisms that existed millions of years ago. |
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| The worldwide circulation of nitrogen from the abiotic environment into organisms and back into the abiotic environment. |
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| The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) by nitrogen-fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria; part of the nitrogen cycle. |
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| The conversion of ammonia (NH3) and and ammonium ions (NH4) to nitrate (NO3) by certain bacteria bacteria (nitrifying bacteria) in the soil. |
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| The incorporation of a substance into the cells of an organism. |
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| The conversion of nitrogen-containing organic compounds to ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4) by certain bacteria (ammonifying bacteria) in the soil. |
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| The general condition of the atmosphere (temperature, moisture, cloudiness) at a particular time and place. |
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| The average weather conditions that occur in the a place over a period of years. Includes temperature and precipitation. |
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| An area on the downwind side of a mountain range with very little precipitation. Deserts often occur here. |
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| The theory that explains how Earth's crustal plates move and interact with boundaries. |
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| The process in which one tectonic plate descends under an adjacent plate. |
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| Fractures in the crust along which rock moves forward and backward, up and down, or from side to side to side; usually found at plate boundaries. |
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| The site at Earth's that is located directly above an earthquakes focus. |
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| The conversion of nitrate (NO3) to nitrogen gas (N2) by certain bacteria (denitrifying bacteria) in the soil; part of the nitrogen cycle. |
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| A brownish orange haze formed by complex chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. |
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| The worldwide circulation of phosphorus from the abiotic environment into organisms and back into the abiotic environment. |
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| The worldwide circulation of sulfur from the abiotic environment into organisms and back into the abiotic environment. |
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| The water cycle, which includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and flow to the seas. |
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| The loss of water vapor from the aerial surfaces of plants. |
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| The movement of fresh water from precipitation and snowmelt to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and ultimately the ocean. |
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| The supply of freshwater under Earth's surface; stored in caverns and aquifers. |
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| The atmosphere from Earth's surface to the stratosphere. Characterized by the presence of clouds, turbulent winds, and decreasing pressure with increasing altitude. |
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