Cycles are the driving forces of the movement of nutrients and materials through all of the spheres of the world Cycles that you need to know Water Cycle Rock Cycle Carbon Cycle Phosphorus Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Spheres you need to know Atmosphere Thin layer of gases surrounding the Earth Biosphere Living part of the Earth Lithosphere  Solid inorganic layers of the Earth Hydrosphere Layer of water that is in and on the Earth

Water Cycle

Important parts of Water Cycle Infiltration, precipitation, and evaporation will clean many pollutants out of freshwater Evaporation occurs mostly over the ocean Runoff is the chief transporter of water soluble pollutants

Human Impact on these Cycles Water Cycle High amounts of freshwater is drawn from the underground reserves Why? Discharge (intentionally or unintentionally) of chemicals and pollutants into water sources Impact on Nature?

Rock Cycle

Important parts of Rock Cycle Crustal materials are the ones that are being recycled, none from the mantle or core Each part of the rock cycle takes millions of years to complete Any rock can be turned into any rock at any time, just slowly

Human Impact on the Rock Cycle Rates of erosion have increased Why? Mining has striped many of the resources that are nonrenewable Quarrying of rocks and minerals to fight the ever growing need for resources

Carbon Cycle

Important Parts of Carbon Cycle Oceans are large sinks for atmospheric carbon to be dissolved in, but too much carbon can make the ocean acidic, not good conditions for the life in them Increased amounts of carbon formed from the activities of humans Deforestation is causing the loss of processes that would normally help to clear more of the carbon out of the atmosphere Most carbon is stored underground in the petroleum and oil reserves, but human activities are bringing them to the surface quicker than they should

Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide means that there is more heat retained and held near the Earth’s surface High absorptions of carbon dioxide into the ocean leads the production of carbonic acid in the ocean

Carbon Effects on the Land Plants are able to take in more carbon. This means for humans: Longer growing and more lush seasons and production of crops. 2. With the increased amounts of atmospheric carbon, temperatures rise and extend the growing seasons as well. 3. This means for humans that

Phosphorus Cycle

Important Parts of Phosphorus Cycle There is no form of atmospheric phosphorus Animals get the phosphorus they need by eating either plants or animals that have eaten the plants that absorb the phosphorus Weathering and erosion are key elements because they break it down into usable size for absorption

Human Impact on the Phosphorus Cycle Humans primarily use phosphorus for fertilizers, so overuse will cause a disruption in the aquatic ecosystems This leads to eutrophication http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Potomac_green_water.JPG These are large algal blooms that can occur in salt and freshwater, when there is a rapid reproduction and competition for nutrients with other species. Large amounts of toxins are released when the algae becomes stressed, block out sunlight for those species living beneath, and depleting the oxygen of those areas

Human Impact on the Phosphorus Cycle (continued) Deforestation of wooded areas, where many phosphates are released back into the soil, causes the phosphates to be exposed to precipitation and the phosphorus is washed away

Nitrogen Cycle

Important Parts of the Nitrogen Cycle Most of the nitrogen cycle happens in the ground and between the plants and the bacteria that cause the nitrification Precipitation draws some of the nitrogen out of the air Animals get their nitrogen from plants, they do not absorb it like plants do

Human Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle Dumping of untreated sewage and urban runoff Leads to eutrophication again Burning of fossil fuels and wood add to the nitrogen in the air Why is this bad? The use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soils becoming acidified and the soil is inhospitable

Human Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle (continued) Over harvesting of nitrogen rich legumes (plants that contain nitrogen fixing bacteria in a symbiotic relationship) and nitrogen deposits in soils deplete those sources needed to keep the nitrogen cycle moving