1. Industrial Ecology of Earth Resources
EAEE E4001
Industrial Ecology of Earth Resources
The Grand Cycles

2. The carbon cycle: Global carbon inventory
LITHOSPHERE
rocks and sediments: 1.4 x 108 billion tons
fossil fuels: billion tons oil equivalent
DETRITUS
soil, peat, litter: 1750 billion tons
BIOSPHERE
plants: 830 billion tons
animals: 3 billion tons
HYDROSPHERE
dissolved inorganics: billion tons
ATMOSPHERE
carbon dioxide: 635 billion tons

3. The carbon cycle: Pre-industrial annual transport
LAND
OCEANS
60 billion tons
40 billion tons
ATMOSPHERE
To atmosphere: CO2 by decomposition and respiration
From atmosphere: CO2 by photosynthesis
Human impact now: 6.5 billion tons of carbon
(annual increase of 1.6 ppm CO2; +25% in 20th century)

4. Simple representation of carbon bio-reactions
Carbon to atmosphere: decomposition and respiration
C6H10O O2 = 6CO2 + 5H2O +energy
Carbon back to land and oceans: Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 5H2O + sunlight = C6H10O O2

5. Global generation of CO2

6. Sources of anthropogenic carbon dioxide

7. The sulfur cycle: Global inventory
LITHOSPHERE
in elemental form
as hydrated calcium sulfide (gypsum)
sedimentary rocks: 7800 trillion tons
oceanic rocks : 2375 trillion tons
HYDROSPHERE
dissolved sulfate ions: 1280 trillion tons
ATMOSPHERE
mostly carbonyl sulfide (COS): 6 million tons

8. The sulfur cycle: Pre-industrial annual transport
LAND
OCEANS
as reduced sulfide or dusts: 55 million tons
as SO2 from volcanoes: 20 million tons
as ocean spray: 140 million tons
ATMOSPHERE

9. The sulfur cycle: Global human activities
SO2 emissions to atmosphere: 93 million tons*
increased dust emissions: 10 million tons
fertilization: 29 million tons
wastewater emissions: 13 million tons
coals: 1-4% S; oils: %; metal sulfides
Human impact now: +150 million tons of sulfur
(about the same as pre-industrial flow of S)

10. The nitrogen cycle: Global inventory
LITHOSPHERE
rocks and sediments: trillion tons
HYDROSPHERE
dissolved nitrogen: 0.71 trillion tons
ATMOSPHERE
nitrogen gas (N2): 3900 trillion tons
(Atmosphere: 78% N2, 21% O2, <1% A, etc.)

11. The nitrogen cycle: Pre-industrial annual mass flow
LAND
OCEANS
transformation of N2 to organic N by plants and animals: mill t/y
lightning: 3-5 mill t/y
Biofixation in marine systems: estimates range from mill t/y
ATMOSPHERE

12. The nitrogen cycle: Global human activities
production of fertilizers: 80 mill t/y
agriculture, animal breeding: 40 mill t/y
fossil fuel combustion: 20 mill t/y
Human impact now: +140 million tons of nitrogen
(about 50% of pre-industrial flow of N)

13. The phosphorus cycle: Global inventory
LITHOSPHERE
rocks and sediments, continents: 19 billion tons
, ocean: x 105 billion tons
DETRITUS
soil, peat, litter: billion tons
BIOSPHERE
continents: 2.6 billion tons
oceans: billion tons
HYDROSPHERE
fresh water: 0.09 billion tons
oceans: 80 billion tons

14. The phosphorus cycle: Present flow of P, tons per year
Major anthropogenic input:
14 mill tons (fertilizers)
LAND
Erosion:4-7 mill
erosion and
deposition of dust:
4.3 mill
FRESH WATER
dissolved: mill
particulate: 17 mill
OCEAN WATER
Sedimentation: 2-13 mill
ATMOSPHERE

15. Industrial Ecology is a virgin field pregnant of possibilities!
Conclusions
Industrial Ecology is a virgin field pregnant of possibilities!