1. Biogeochemical Cycles 12/6/11

2. What are biogeochemical cycles? Biogeochemical cycles= complete path a chemical takes through the atmosphere, hydrosphere (water), lithosphere(earth’s crust and mantle) and biosphere (plants and animals) – Bio= life – Geo=earth – Chemicals= elements and compounds

3. What is the rock cycle? Sedimentary Igneous Metamorphic

4. What is the Hydrologic Cycle? The water Cycle – Precipitation – Evaporation – Transpiration – Condensation

5. What is carbon cycling? Food Chain Decomposition Carbon emissions

6. What is Nitrogen Cycling? Nitrogen fixation: N 2  NH 4  NO 2  NO 3 Factory emissions and Eutrophication

7. What is Phosphorus Cycling? Minerals/Soil Fertilizer run off, sewage

8. Do humans effect biogeochemical cycling? Humans are responsible for nearly half the fixed nitrogen that is deposited on land. Fossil Fuels release carbon emissions when burned  greenhouse gases Sulfur, phosphorus and Nitrogen released through mining and deforestation

9. How are the Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Carbon cycles linked? Nitrogen is found in chlorophyll, phosphorus is taken up from soil into plants, which enter the food chain (carbon cycle).