Biogeochemical Cycles
Water Cycle Defined: Movement of water through the atmosphere 75% of the earth is water 99% of water undrinkable (salty & frozen) Water recycles over and over
How Does Water Go Up? Water rises into the atmosphere in two ways: Evaporation: Heat changes water from a liquid to a gas Transpiration: Water evaporates from the leaves of plants through openings called stomata
How Does Water Come Down? Warm, moist air rises and eventually cools Condensation: process where water vapor turns into a liquid Rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls when water drops become heavy (Precipitation)
Water on the Ground Infiltration: Water soaks into the soil and collects as groundwater Process repeats Runoff: Water runs down hill into rivers, lakes, streams, oceans…
Oxygen Cycle Autotrophs: Release O2 into atmosphere via photosynthesis All life: Absorbs O2 to be used during cellular respiration Respiration: creates ATP energy for cells
Carbon Cycle CO2 CO2 Carbon = (organic molecules) carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids Plants & autotrophs: Intake: Absorb CO2 from atmosphere Create glucose & sugar via photosynthesis Output: Release CO2 during respiration
Carbon Cycle Consumers Intake: Carbon moves up the food chain as 1 feeds on another Output: Release CO2 during respiration
Carbon Cycle Decomposers Input: Feed on dead organic matter Output: Release CO2 during respiration Output: Organic molecules returned to soil during decomposition
Carbon Cycle Human Industry CO2 Human Industry Output: Release CO2 into atmosphere when fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are burned
Nitrogen Cycle N = 78% atmosphere (most unusable) Soil Bacteria Ammonia Nitrates N = 78% atmosphere (most unusable) Soil Bacteria Nitrogen fixation: convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia Nitrification: ammonia converted into nitrates
Nitrogen Cycle Nitrates Plants Absorb nitrates through their roots
Nitrogen Cycle Animals Nitrates Animals Ingest nitrates through the food chain (plants eaten)
Nitrogen Cycle Decomposers Ammonia Ammonia Ammonia Decomposers Return ammonia to soil by feeding on dead matter
Nitrogen Cycle Lightning Energy breaks atmospheric nitrogen into Nitrogen oxide Nitrogen oxide falls in rain to soil
Phosphorus (P) Cycle No phosphorus in atmosphere Rocks Phosphorus released by weathering of rocks P P
Phosphorus (P) Cycle Plants Absorb P into their roots P
Phosphorus (P) Cycle Animals Ingest P when plants eaten P continues to move up food chain P
Phosphorus (P) Cycle Decomposers Breakdown dead matter and release P into soil P P
Phosphorus (P) Cycle Human Contribution P P P P Adding excess P from fertilizers P washes into lakes, etc… Excess P causes extreme algae growth P P