BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

is the complete pathway that a chemical elements follows through Earth system from the biosphere to
atmosphere, to oceans, to sediments, soils and rocks, and from rocks back to the atmosphere ocean,
sediments, soils and biosphere. It explains how the nutrients move between living and non-living things.
the movement (or cycling) of matter through a system a cycle is a series of change which comes back to
the starting point and which can be repeated is a pathway by which a chemical substance moves through
both the biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) components of
Earth. Bio-means life Geo-means earth Chemical- because they involve chemical elements Cycle-a series
of change which comes back to the starting point and which can be repeated The most well-known and
important biogeochemical cycles, for example include the water cycle, 3 types of biogeochemical cycles
1. Hydrologic or water cycle 2. Gaseous cycle 3. Sedimentary Cycle WHY BIOGEOCHEMICHAL CYCLE
IMPORTANT? Biogeochemical cycles are important because they regulate the elements necessary for life
on Earth by cycling them through the biological and physical aspects of the world. Biogeochemical cycles
are a form of natural recycling that allows the continuous survival of ecosystems. It is because they
regulate the elements necessary for the life on Earth by cycling them through the Biological and physical
aspects of the world It is form of natural recycling that allows the continuous survival of ecosystem It
provides fresh air and transforms dead organic matter in the form that can be taken back the metabolic
system of plants. It also helps retain necessary nutrients in usable form for the living components of the
ecosystem HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT AFFECT THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE Biogeochemical cycle Its refer
to the movement of nutrients and other elements between biotic and abiotic factors Bio-biosphere Geo-
geological components Chemical the elements that move through a cycle. HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT
AFFECT THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE -by the use of fertilizers and raising livestock, especially hogs
(Humans affect the phosphorus cycle mainly by the use of fertilizers and raising livestock, especially hogs
Fertilizers and hog waste are high in phosphorus, which makes its way into the soil (where it is necessary
in moderate amounts) and due to runoff, in water -The use of detergents, many of which contain sodium
tripolyphosphate, or STPP (Humans affect the phosphorus cycle mainly by the use of fertilizers and
raising livestock, especially hogs. Fertilizers and hog waste are high in phosphorus, which makes its way
into the soil (where it is necessary in moderate amounts) and, due to runoff, in water) -The use of
detergents, many of which contain sodium tripolyphosphate, or STPP (use of detergents, many of which
contain sodium tripolyphosphate, or STPP. The phosphate in STPP, the use of which has been severely
curtailed due to environmental regulations, can lead to algal blooms in water, which can kill fish and
other plants It is by these activities that we alter the phosphorus and, in reality, the nitrogen cycle as
well. -deforestation and fossil fuel burning, have directly and indirectly changed the biogeochemical and
physical processes which affects the earth's climate (Recently, people have been causing these
biogeochemical cycles to change. When we cut down forests, make more factories, and drive more
carsthat bum fossil fuels, the way that carbon and nitrogen move around the Earth changes. These
changes add more greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and this causes climate change) -burning of coal
and the internal combustion engine results in the production of sulphur dioxide, causing an impact on
the sulphur cycle. (The burning of fossil fuels refers to the burning of oil, natural gas, and coal to
generate energy. We use this energy to generate electricity, and to power transportation (for example,
cars and planes) and industrial processes. Ever since the invention of the first coal-fired steam engines of
the 1700s, our burning of fossil fuels has steadily increased. The effects of the burning of fossil fuels
especially carbon dioxide, are having far-reaching effects on our climate and ecosystems) -Livestock
ranching -usage of vehicles -fossil fuel combustion and forest burning to clear forest areas for agricultural
spaces -Sewage waste and septic tank leaching Effect on water cycle 1. Withdrawing large amounts of
the fresh water 2 Clearing vegetation and eroding soils 3. Polluting surface and underground water 4.
Contributing to climate change Effect on carbon cycle 1. Burning fossil fuels 2. Clearing vegetation faster
than it is replace Effects on Phosphorous Cycle 1. We remove large amounts of phosphate from the earth
to make fertilizer 2. . We reduce phosphorous in tropical soils by clearing forests. 3. We add excess
phosphates to aquatic systems from runoff of animal wastes and fertilizers excess phosphorous cause's
algal blooms Effects on sulfur cycle 1. burning coal and oil Effects on Nitrogen Cycle Adding nitrous oxide
to the atmosphere from vehicles and factories which contributes to acid rain. Contaminating ground
water from nitrates ions in inorganic fertilizers. Releasing nitrogen into troposphere through
deforestation

WATER CYLE

The water cycle is powered from the energy emitted by the sun. This energy heats water in the ocean
and seas. Water evaporates as water vapor into the air.

Some ice and snow sublimates directly into water vapor. Evapotranspiration is water transpired from
plants and evaporated from the soil. The water molecule H2O has smaller molecular mass than the
major components of the atmosphere, nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (02) and hence is less dense. Due to the
significant difference in density, buoyancy drives humid air higher. As altitude increases, air pressure
decreases and the temperature drops (see Gas laws). The lower temperature causes water vapor to
condense into tiny liquid water droplets which are heavier than the air, and which fall unless supported
by an updraft. A huge concentration of these droplets over a large area in the atmosphere become
visible as cloud, while condensation near ground level is referred to as fog.

Atmospheric circulation moves water vapor around the globe; cloud particles collide, grow, and fall out
of the upper atmospheric layers as precipitation. Some precipitation falls as snow, hail, or sleet, and can
accumulate in ice caps and glaciers, which can store frozen water for thousands of years. Most water falls
as rain back into the ocean or onto land, where the water flows over the ground as surface runoff. A
portion of this runoff enters rivers, with streamflow moving water towards the oceans. Runoff and water
emerging from the ground (groundwater) may be stored as freshwater in lakes. Not all runoff flows into
rivers, much of it soaks into the ground as infiltration. Some water infiltrates deep into the ground and
replenishes aquifers, which can store freshwater for long periods of time. Some infiltration stays close to
the land surface and can seep back into surface-water bodies (and the ocean) as groundwater discharge
or be taken up by plants and transferred back to the atmosphere as water vapor by transpiration. Some
groundwater finds openings in the land surface and emerges as freshwater springs. In river valleys and
floodplains, there is often continuous water exchange between surface water and ground water in the
hyporheic zone.

Over time, the water returns to the ocean, to continue the water cycle.

The ocean plays a key role in the water cycle. The ocean holds "97% of the total water on the planet;
78% of global precipitation occurs over the ocean, and it is the source of 86% of global evaporation".
Physical processes

Processes leading to movements and phase changes in water

The water cycle involves the following processes:

Evaporation

The transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or bodies of water
into the overlying atmosphere. The source of energy for evaporation is primarily solar radiation.
Evaporation often implicitly includes transpiration from plants, though together they are specifically
referred to as evapotranspiration. Total annual evapotranspiration amounts to approximately 505,000
km3 (121,000 cu mi) of water, 434,000 km3 (104,000 cu mi) of which evaporates from the oceans. 86%
of global evaporation occurs over the ocean.

Condensation

The transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air, creating clouds and fog.

Deposition

This refers to changing of water vapor directly to ice.

Precipitation

Condensed water vapor that falls to the Earth's surface. Most precipitation occurs as rain, but also
includes snow, hail, fog drip, graupel, and sleet. Approximately 505,000 km3 (121,000 cu mi) of water
falls as precipitation each year, 398,000 km3 (95,000 cu mi) of it over the oceans. The rain on land
contains 107,000 km3

(26,000 cu mi) of water per year and a snowing only 1,000 km3 (240 cu mi). 78% of global precipitation
occurs over the ocean.

Runoff

The variety of ways by which water moves across the land. This includes both surface runoff and channel
runoff. As it flows, the water may seep into the ground, evaporate into the air, become stored in lakes or
reservoirs, or be extracted for agricultural or other human uses.

Infiltration

The flow of water from the ground surface into the ground. Once infiltrated, the water becomes soil
moisture or groundwater. A recent global study using water stable isotopes, however, shows that not all
soil moisture is equally available for groundwater recharge or for plant transpiration.

Percolation

Water flows vertically through the soil and rocks under the influence of gravity.

Snow melt

The runoff produced by melting snow.

The state change directly from solid water (snow or ice) to water vapor by passing the liquid state

Subsurface flow

The flow of water underground, in the vadose zone and aquifers. Subsurface water may return to the
surface (e.g. as a spring or by being pumped) or eventually seep into the oceans. Water returns to the
land surface at lower elevation than where it infiltrated, under the force of gravity or gravity induced
pressures. Groundwater tends to move slowly and is replenished slowly, so it can remain in aquifers for
thousands of years.

Transpiration

The release of water vapor from plants and soil into the air.

Groundwater

Ground water is water found below the surface. It is water that is in empty spaces of soil and rocks.
Groundwater starts as rain (or other precipitation), and flows underground for long periods of time
through aquifers. Groundwater flow returns to the surface again through springs and rivers.
Groundwater is an important part of the water cycle. Plants take in groundwater through their roots.

People bring groundwater to the surface by digging or drilling wells below the surface. They bring up
water from the aquifer and use it for irrigation and other purposes. Some of the dissolved minerals in
groundwater are important in the food making process of plants. Rainwater is the main source of
groundwater.

Gaseous Cycle

we a tipe of brogeochemical cocain which the rearvous Cycles and in move mare rapidly spally lan
serlimentary cycles and to more άν το sanger in the bioschere because of где затоертано темите

Gatsous Nutrient Cycle

me main source of nutrients are the atmosphere and the ocean the gases which are the most important
for learn mogen, oxygen and these tres gases in statile quaroties of 78% respectively, EXAMPLE: norogen,
oxygen and carbon dioxide

Elements move through the atmosphers. Man reserve as the atinoscmers and the

Gas Cycle

Carbon
Nitrogen

Carbon Cycle

On earth, the element carbon is a part of seuraster, the annosphere, rocks such as living things.

Corbonis able to move frattons of the the carbon Caroon moves from the atmosphere to stars cortion
дастаа во оxygen in a gas caned carbon dao1002)

Through the process of photosутепени, carbon Guide polied to the ar reach food made from carbon for
part

Carbon moves from plants to animals

nough food chains, the carbon that is in plants moves to the animals that cat ther Nerals that eat other
animals get the carbon from ther food ton

Certion moves from plants and animals to sos

when plants and animals die, their bodies, wood and leaves decays singing the carton to the ground
Some is buried and wil become fossil fuels in millions and millions of carbon moves from living things to
the atmosphere.

Each time you exhale, you are releasing carbon dioxide gas (CO2) into the atmosphore Aimas and plants
need to get rid of carbon dioxide gas through a process called nespration Carbon moves from fossil fuels
to the atmosphere when fuels are burned

Futher Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the oceans. The oceans, and other todies of water, absorb
some carbon from the atmosphere. The carbon is dissolved mo the water

Carbon moves through our planet over longer time scales as well

For example, over millions of years weathering of rocks on land can add carbon to surface water which
eventually runs off to the ocean
Dier long lime scales, carbon is removed from seawater when the shells and bones of nirne animals and
plankton collect on the ses floor These shells and bores are made

fimestone, which contains carbon kisc. The carbon can be released back to the atmosphere if the
limestone meits er is Metamorphosed in a subduction zone.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is one of the the primary nutrients omcal for the survival of all irg spanisms Although nitrogen
is very abundant in the atmospheres largely naccessible in this form to most organisme

The processes in Nitrogen cycle can be explained as follows:

Strogen Fixation

Nitrogen fixation is the process wherein N2 is converted to ammonium οι ΝΗ This is the only way that
organisms can attain nitrogen drectly from the atmoschere the that can do this are called nitrogen-fixing
organisms Cortain bacteria, nicluding those among the genus Rhizobium, are able to fix nitrogen tor
convert it to ammonum through metabolic processes.

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria often form symbiotic relationships with host plants. This symbiosis is well-known
to occur in the legume family of plants jeg beans, peas, and over in this relationship, nitrogen-fixing
bacteria mhabit legume root nodules and cave carbohydrates and a favourable environment from their
noel plant in exchange some of the nitrogen they fix in addition to nitrogen-fixing bacteria, high-energy
natural events such as lightning, fres, and even hot lava flows can cause the faation of smaller, but
significant amoures of nitrogen.

When organisms die decomposers such as trattarts and tangy consume the organe and mad to the
process of decomposition During the proces water and smount of the nitrogen contained within the
dead organetto morum Once in the form of ammonium nitrogen is availai ter use by de sansformation to
nitrate (NO3-) through the rescate or to

Nitrification

Nerification requires the presence of oxygen, so nitrilicetion san soccer amy n aygen-rich environments
like circulating or flowing waters and the sullace ayers of anil sediments.
The process of nitrification has some important consequences. Ammon (WH4+) are positively charged
and therefore stick tare absorted to negativey shergos day particles and soil organic mattor

Denitrification

Through denitrification, oxidized forms of mogen such as mate (NDS) and NO2-) are converted to
dinitrogen (N2) and, to a lesser extent, natrous oxide gas (NO2) Denitrification is an anaerobic process
that is carried out by deritidying bacteria stitch convert nitrate to dinitrogen in the following sequence

NO2-NO-N2O-N2

Once converted to dinitrogen, nitrogen is unlikely to be reconverted to a biologically available from

Dentrification is the only thing in nitrogen transformation that removes nitrogen from ecosystem and it
roughly balances the amount of nitrogen fixer. Thus a large part of nitrogen is fixed up and stored in
plants, animals and microbes. Nitrogen leaves the living system in the same taken in from the
atmosphere and the input and outflow of nitrogen are balanced in the ecosystem.

Sedimentary cycles vary from one element to another but each cycle consists fundamentally of a
solution for water-related phase and a rock for sediment phase in the solution phase, weathering
releases minerals from Earth's crise in the form of salts, some of which dissolve in water, pass through a
series of organisms and ultimately reach the deep seas where they settle out of circulation indefinitely.
In the rock phase, other salts deposit out as sediment and rock in shallow seas, eventually to be
weathered and recycled

Plants and some animals obtain their nutrent needs from solutions in the environment. Other animals
acquire the bulk of their needs from the plants and animals that they consume. After the death of an
organism, the elements fixed in its body are returned to the environment through the action of
decomposers (decay organisms such as bacteria, insects, and fungi) and become available to other living
organisms again.

The Phosphorus cycle, Calcium cycle and Sulphur cycle are the most important sedimentary cycles

Phosphorus Cycle

The Phosphorus Cyde

Plane saves

Andrnate tasties and faces

Decompeallis by fungi and bocharis

Phosphorus circulates through rocks, water, soil, sediments, and organisms in a cycle.

Rain and weathering cause phosphate ions and other minerals to be released from rocks throughout
time. This inorganic phosphate is subsequently dispersed throughout the soil and water

Inorganic phosphate is taken up by plants from the soil. Animals may eat me plants after that

Phosphate is integrated into organic molecules such as DNA once it reaches the plant or animal.

When a plant or animal dies, it decomposes, releasing organic phosphate into the soil.

Bacteria that break down organic materials to inorganic forms of phosphorus can make organic forms of
phosphate available to plants in the soil Mineralisation is the name for this process

Phosphorus from the soil can end up in streams and, eventually, the oceans.

It can be absorbed into sediments over time once it reaches that location

Sulphur Cycle

Sulfur Cycle

The majority of the world's sulphur is bound up in rocks and salts or buried deep within oceanic
sediments

Sulphur is also contained in the air we breathe. Both natural and human sources contribute to its
presence in the atmosphere

Volcanic eruptions, microbiological activities, water evaporation, and decomposing organisms are just a
few examples of natural resources. When sulphur enters the atmosphere as a result of human activity, it
is primarily due to Industrial activities that generate large amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gases Sulphur dioxide reacts with oxygen to form sulphur troede ges (503) or
with other chemicals in the atmosphere to produce sulphur salts, when it maches the atmosphere.

Sulphur dioxide can also form sulphuric acid when it reacts with water (H2SO4)

Dimethyl Sulphide, which is exhaled into the atmosphere by plankton species, can also be used to make
sulphuric acid.

All of these particles will either fall back to earth or will react with rain and fail as acid deposits

Plants will then absorb the particles, which will then be released back into the atmosphere, restarting
the sulphur cycle.

Calcium Cycle

Crecum Come Dugriem

Calcium is primarily found in the form of rock, minerals, or structural calcium embedded in the mineral
crystal lattices of soil particles, and it is not easily available.
The majonty of calcium in the soil is insoluble unless it is weathered off of minerals or bacteria break
down organic materials into soluble calcium

Some calcium, however, is held loosely or securely on the soil or in the soil solution and is available to
plants and microbes

Animals, microbes, and plants decompose and the calcium in their bodies 15 mineralized and released
back into the soil

Roots also return minerals, carbohydrates, and other chemicals to the soil on a regular basis, including
calcium.

Calcium is adsorbed to the surface of the day and negatively charged organic particles in the soil because
it is a positively charged ion Positively charged ions (cations) bind to soil particles and are referred to as
exchangeable lans because they can be exchanged with other ions in the sad solution

Calcium enters an organic phase when it is taken by plants or microbes Calcium is constantly exchanged
between plant roots, microbes, and soil in this form

Decomposers break down a plant, animal, or soil fauna after it dies, and calcium is released back into the
soil in a soluble form As a result, calcium alternates between the soluble (and available) and the
insoluble (and unavailable) phases

Conclusion

The sedimentary cycles are one of the most important biogeochemical cycles. They are very crucial to
ecosystems. They function as a recycling system in nature Decades of rigorous research also revealed
that the sedimentary cycle is not only found on Earth but also on Mars.