1. Biogeochemical Cycles
Chapter 3
Biogeochemical Cycles

2. Matter cycles through the biosphere
Biosphere- The combination of all ecosystems on Earth.
Biogeochemical cycles- The movement of matter within and between ecosystems involving biological, geologic and chemical processes.

3. Biogeochemical CyclesN O P S
+ Ca, Mg, K

4. Biogeochemical Cycles
C - carbon H – hydrogen (builds water for solubility, provides the ability to transfer water) N - nitrogen O – oxygen (builds water, important in cellular respiration) P - phosphorus S - sulfur + Ca, Mg, K

5. The Hydrologic Cycle The movement of water through the biosphere.
What is the driving “force”?

7. The Hydrologic Cycle
Transpiration- The process where plants release water from their leaves into the atmosphere.
Evapotranspiration- The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration.
Runoff- When water moves across the land surface into streams and rivers, eventually reaching the ocean.

8. The Carbon Cycle

9. The Carbon Cycle
Why do we need: good at chemical bonding and building organic
Where stored: mostly as gas in our atmosphere
**ocean is known as a carbon sink
**fossil fuels are also seen as sequestered carbon…why?
Human impact: burning fossil fuels, deforestation, soil degradation

10. The Nitrogen Cycle

11. Fix NAAD ANPAN
Process Product Fix Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrification Nitrates Assimilation Proteins Ammonification Ammonia Denitrification Nitrogen

12. The Nitrogen Cycle
Why do we need: building block of amino acids, builds proteins, part of DNA and RNA
Where stored: mostly in the atmosphere, not usable until the N has been fixed
Human impact: burning fossil fuels and adds NOx to our atmosphere, used as fertilizers,
**we are adding N to nature at rate of 1.5 times faster than the natural rate

13. The Phosphorus Cycle

14. The Phosphorus Cycle Why do we need: lipids, DNA, ATP
Where stored: rocks (locked away), released within the rock cycle and travels through the water cycle
Human impact: used as fertilizers and increases growth, used in animal feeds, used in detergents but banned in 1994(laundry soap) & 2010(dish detergents)

15. The Sulfur Cycle Why do we need: adds structure to proteins
Where stored: rocks & volcanic eruptions
Human impact: burning fossil fuels causes SOx pollution, released during mining of minerals

16. The Ca, Mg, K Cycle
Why do we need: regulate cellular process, transmit signals
Where stored: No gas component, dissolved in water, (K)can leach easily and slows growth of plants
Human impact: