How can abiotic factors affect the water cycle

Explanation: Changes in abiotic factors can result in extreme problems for some organisms. It can also have positive effect on organisms. Related questions How do biotic and abiotic factors cycle in an ecosystem? What are some examples of biotic factors in an ecosystem? What are abiotic factors in an ecosystem? Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. Previous Next. The Water Cycle In the previous section, you learned how the community portion of an ecosystem interacts with energy , an essential abiotic factor in the habitat.

Water Water is perhaps the most important component of any ecosystem. Brain Snack The largest freshwater body of water in the world is lake Baikal in Russia.

Have groups read their assigned ecosystem's brief description and look at its matching illustration to learn what abiotic factors or physical processes impact organisms in the ecosystem. Ask groups to label all of the abiotic factors they see in the illustration.

Next, ask groups to list other abiotic factors that are not seen in the illustration. Then provide each group with a copy of the Ocean Abiotic Factors Chart. Have students decide which abiotic factors are impacting the organisms in each of the ecosystems and place check marks next to those factors.

Then have students write one or more examples of how that factor is impacting organisms in the ecosystem. Facilitate as needed, giving students about 15 minutes for their small-group work. Finally, as a class, facilitate a discussion in which students share what they learned about each ecosystem. As examples of abiotic-biotic interactions are given, ask volunteers to fill in the Ocean Abiotic Factors Chart projected on the board.

Have students discuss how humans can impact the abiotic factors and processes of ocean ecosystems. Emphasize that humans should be listed as a biotic factor and that they can impact the abiotic factors and processes of ocean ecosystems. In their small groups, have students identify and discuss different ways humans are impacting the abiotic factors in their assigned ecosystem. After a few minutes of small-group discussions, bring the class together for further discussion.

Ask: What are ways in which humans can impact the abiotic factors in these ocean ecosystems? Elicit and discuss student responses. Ask: How could this impact coastal ecosystems? Elicit from students that this could destroy coastal habitat, increase pollution, strain water resources, and increase non-native species.

Explain that all biotic and abiotic factors are important because they are all interacting to maintain the health and balance of an ecosystem.

Lead a discussion in which students compare and contrast the abiotic factors and physical processes impacting the three different marine ecosystems. Ask students to analyze and discuss which marine ecosystem is the most inhospitable in terms of its abiotic characteristics. Use the National Geographic MapMaker Interactive and the temperature, chlorophyll, and surface currents layers to demonstrate how one ocean biotic factor, like chlorophyll concentration, is affected by two abiotic factors, like sea surface temperature and currents.

Marine ecosystems are comprised of the living organisms that have adapted to the abiotic factors and physical processes that characterize each ecosystem. Biotic factors include plants, animals, fungi, algae, and bacteria.

Abiotic factors include sunlight, temperature, moisture, wind or water currents, soil type, and nutrient availability. Ocean ecosystems are impacted by abiotic factors in ways that may be different from terrestrial ecosystems.

This is an underground layer of rock that stores water, sometimes for thousands of years. The Water Cycle The chemical elements and water that are needed by organisms continuously recycle in ecosystems. Part of a cycle that holds an element or water for a short period of time is called an exchange pool.

For example, the atmosphere is an exchange pool for water. It usually holds water in the form of water vapor for just a few days. Part of a cycle that holds an element or water for a long period of time is called a reservoir. The ocean is a reservoir for water. The deep ocean may hold water for thousands of years. Evaporation, Sublimation, and Transpiration Water changes to a gas by three different processes: Evaporation occurs when water on the surface changes to water vapor.

The sun heats the water and gives water molecules enough energy to escape into the atmosphere. Sublimation occurs when ice and snow change directly to water vapor.

This also happens because of heat from the sun. Transpiration occurs when plants release water vapor through leaf pores called stomata see Figure below. Condensation and Precipitation Rising air currents carry water vapor into the atmosphere. Groundwater and Runoff Precipitation that falls on land may flow over the surface of the ground.