Interaction the water cycle has with the Biosphere
As water falls to ground, it soaks into ground and becomes groundwater.
This water is absorbed by roots of plants that hold soil in place and slows down surface runoff, preventing soil erosion.
Plants release water back into atmosphere by transpiration.
Animals do the same but be breathing.
Animals and plants store water in their bodies for a time to transport food within their structures.
Animals use water to excrete waste and to cool them down.

The unique properties of water and its importance to the biosphere
Physical/ Chemical properties                                                                                                                 Importance to the biosphere
1. water exists as a liquid over a wide temperature range.                                                                         1. Average temp. on earth is 15 degrees Celsius, meaning water is found mostly in liquid phase.
2. Liquid water changes temp. very slowly.                                                                                                 2. water heats up and cools slower than soil/rocks. This moderates earth temp. therefore                                                                                                                                                                         protecting living organisms from abrupt temp. changes.
3. Liquid water is a good solvent                                                                                                                 3. Water carries nutrients through tissues of living organisms and flushes out waste products.
4. Water expands when it freezes rater than contracting.                                                                           4. Ice floats in water because it has lower mass per volume then liquid.
                                                                                                                                                                         without this property lakes and rivers will freeze from the bottom up, killing many forms of aquatic life

	Created by mossrobyn about 11 years ago

physics (Module 8: Chemical systems) Note on 2. The spheres, created by mossrobyn on 11/10/2013.