1. The Sulfur Cycle Sean Castle, Vincent LaRocca, Renee Davis, and Kaitlyn Powers 6th Hour - 10/14/15

3. Mineralization ● Mineralization is the process by which an organic substances becomes an inorganic substance ● In the sulfur cycle, organic sulfur is mineralized into its inorganic form, hydrogen sulfide(H 2 S) ● The rate of sulfur mineralization is about 1.0 to 10.0 percent a year ● This step affects the geosphere and the biosphere

4. Oxidation Inorganic sulfur is mined alongside fossil fuels The sulfur is combusted when the fossil fuels are burned for energy Volcanic activity also puts great amounts of sulfur dioxide and sulfates into the atmosphere Sulfates and Sulfur Dioxide ( SO 2 ) are put into the atmosphere Sulfur will then mix with water and particles in the atmosphere to for acidic precipitation This can cause rapid weathering and destruction of plant-life This step affects the geosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere

5. Reduction Sulfate (SO 4 2- ) is reduced to organic sulfhydryl groups (R-SH) by plants, fungi, and prokaryotes. Organic molecules containing sulfur can also be desulfurated, which producing H 2 S This step affects both the hydrosphere and the geosphere Incorporation Also known as microbial immobilization Microbes in the soil take sulfur compounds and turn them into organic sulfur compounds This step affects the biosphere and the geosphere

6. The Effects of the Sulfur Cycle Human combustion of coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels have greatly increased the amount of Sulfur in the atmosphere which can stop the cleansing of greenhouse gases This has greatly increased the amount of acid rain that falls Acid rain caused by the Sulfur Cycle can lower the pH of surface water and can damage and possibly kill aquatic life Acid rain can also damage soil, killing microbes that are unable to handle the lower pH’s. Sulfur contains vitamins, proteins, and hormones that contribute to the climate and the health of the organisms in the ecosystem.

7. Works Cited http://www4.ncsu.edu/~franzen/public_html/Poland/Poznan08a/Sulfur_Cycle.p df http://agriinfo.in/?page=topic&superid=5&topicid=166 http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/4/1/24 enviroliteracy.org/air-climate-weather/biogeochemical-cycles/sulfur-cycle/