Water, Carbon, Nitrogen Oxygen and Phosphorus Cycles Water, Carbon, Nitrogen Oxygen and Phosphorus

Water (hydrologic) Cycle Plants absorb water from the soil Transpiration and respiration return water to the atmosphere Precipitation returns water to the soil Nonmetal oxides in the atmosphere combine with water to form acid rain

The Carbon Cycle Carbon is fixed by plants 6 CO2 + 6 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 Carbon is given off by consumers C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O Organisms containing carbon form fossil fuels Burning fossil fuels releases carbon 2 C8H18 + 25 O2  16 CO2 + 18 H2O

Carbon Cycle

Arctic Carbon Cycling

The Nitrogen Cycle Bacteria fix nitrogen from the air Consumers and producers incorporate nitrogen into their tissues Nitrogen can be fixed industrially from the air Production of ammonia Decay processes return nitrogen to the air Nitrogen from fertilizers may contaminate water sources

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

The Oxygen Cycle Oxygen is produced by photosynthesis 6 CO2 + 6 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 The largest chemical process on earth! Oxygen is sequestered by respiration C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O

C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O 6 CO2 + 6 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2

The Phosphorus Cycle The element phosphorus (P)is released in the form of ionic phosphate (PO43-) Weathering of rock, mining, some detergents and fertilizers Phosphate is taken up by plants and fungi Consumers absorb phosphate from plants Decomposers return phosphate to soil Phosphate leaches into water supply May form new phosphate containing rock