Table of Contents
What are Biogeochemical Cycles?
Biogeochemical cycles are the pathways that matter and energy take through the environment. There are four types of biogeochemical cycles: the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorus cycle.
The water cycle circulates water between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. The carbon cycle circulates carbon between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. The nitrogen cycle circulates nitrogen between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. The phosphorus cycle circulates phosphorus between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.
Each of the four biogeochemical cycles has a biogeochemical cycle diagram. The water cycle diagram shows the pathways of water vapor, precipitation, surface water, groundwater, and the ocean. The carbon cycle diagram shows the pathways of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and organic carbon. The nitrogen cycle diagram shows the pathways of nitrogen gas, ammonia, nitrates, and organic nitrogen. The phosphorus cycle diagram shows the pathways of phosphorus gas, phosphate, and organic phosphorus.
Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon atoms move between the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and oceans. The carbon cycle is important because it regulates the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming.
Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is the process that recycles nitrogen gas (N2) into biologically useful forms of nitrogen. These biologically useful forms of nitrogen are essential for plant growth and are used in the production of proteins and DNA. The nitrogen cycle is a closed cycle, meaning that the same amount of nitrogen gas is recycled over and over again.
The nitrogen cycle can be divided into five steps:
1. Nitrogen fixation
2. Assimilation
3. Nitrification
4. Denitrification
5. Ammonification
Nitrogen fixation is the process where nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia (NH3). This process is carried out by bacteria called nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Assimilation is the process where ammonia is converted into nitrate (NO3-). This process is carried out by bacteria called nitrifying bacteria. Nitrification is the process where nitrate is converted into nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrogen gas. This process is carried out by bacteria called nitrifying bacteria. Denitrification is the process where nitrite is converted into nitrogen gas. This process is carried out by bacteria called denitrifying bacteria. Ammonification is the process where organic nitrogen is converted into ammonia. This process is carried out by bacteria called ammonifying bacteria.
The nitrogen cycle is an essential process for the health of the environment. It helps to recycle essential nutrients back into the environment so that they can be used
Oxygen Cycle
The oxygen cycle is the process that moves oxygen atoms between the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. The oxygen cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of oxygen atoms in the Earth’s biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
Phosphorus Cycle
The phosphorus cycle is the process by which phosphorus is circulated between the environment and living things. Phosphorus is a necessary nutrient for plant growth and is found in fertilizers. When plants grow, they take up phosphorus from the soil and release it back into the soil when they die. Animals also take up phosphorus from the soil and release it when they die. Phosphorus is also released into the environment when fossil fuels are burned.
Sulphur Cycle
The Sulphur Cycle is a process that describes the movement of sulphur through the environment. Sulphur is a mineral that is found in many different types of rocks, and it is released into the environment when these rocks are broken down. It can then be absorbed by plants and animals, and it is eventually released back into the environment when these organisms die.
Water Cycle
- The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The sun’s energy is the driving force of the water cycle. Water evaporates from the surface of the Earth into the atmosphere. When it evaporates, the water molecules become vapor and take up more space than the liquid water molecules. This takes up heat energy from the environment, which warms the atmosphere.
- The vapor rises and moves around the Earth in the atmosphere. When the vapor reaches an area with cooler temperatures, such as a higher altitude or a colder climate, it condenses and forms clouds. The water droplets in the clouds grow larger and eventually fall to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Some of the water flows over the surface of the Earth as runoff. Some of the water seeps into the ground and becomes groundwater. groundwater flows through the Earth’s soil and rock until it reaches an area where the soil is porous enough to let the water through. The water then flows back to the surface of the Earth at a spring, stream, river, or lake.
