Water, Carbon, Phosphorus, Nitrogen and Sulfur

 Collects, purifies and distributes earth’s supply of water  Driven by evaporation (from oceans, lakes, rivers and soil), precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, dew), and transpiration (from surfaces of plants and soil)  Reservoirs (sinks): groundwater/aquifers, ocean, ice and snow (glaciers), lakes and reservoirs  Humans influence cycle by: Increased surface runoff Taking too much groundwater out Water pollution

 Building block for organic compounds necessary for life  Key component in atmosphere—greenhouse gases and temperature regulation  Driven by photosynthesis and cell respiration  Reservoirs (sinks): atmosphere, plants, animals, fossil fuels, dissolved in ocean, limestone and ocean sediments  Human Impacts (releasing CO 2 into atmosphere): Driving cars Deforestation Burning fossil fuels Burning forests

 Component of proteins, vitamins and nucleic acids  Cannot be absorbed directly by plants and animals (N 2 )—rely on nitrogen fixing bacteria  Reservoirs (sinks): atmosphere, ocean sediments, soil (ammonia and nitrates), plants and animals  Human Impacts: Runoff from fertilizers and decomposition (water, soil) Burning fuel and fertilizers (atmosphere) Remove from soils with agriculture and irrigation

 Circulates through water and soil, does not include the atmosphere  Very slow cycle. Component of nucleic acids and ATP/ADP, bones and teeth  Reservoirs (sinks): phosphate salts in rock and ocean sediments; plants and animals  Human Impacts: Runoff from mining waste, sewage and fertilizer Erosion of rock

 Used to produce proteins  Stored in underground rocks and minerals, and sulfate salts in ocean sediments  Hydrogen sulfide gas released to atmosphere through volcanoes and decomposers  Reservoirs (sinks): atmosphere, plants, animals, rock and soils, ocean sediments  Human Impacts: release sulfur dioxide through burning of fossil fuels and refining coal Mining Acid rain from fossil fuel burning