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Natural Resources
The Earth is the o ly planet on whic.h life exists. Life on the Earth depends upon many factors such as air, water, food, s01l and energy obtained from che Sun.

Resources on the Earth

Resources on the Earth are air, w ter and land. Lithosphere is the outer crust of our planet Earth, which we ca_Il as land. Hydrosphere is the Earth's surface covered wirh water. 75% of the Earth's surface is covered with water comprising of seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, st.reams, ponds, etc.. That's why it is called Blue Planer. ,Atmosphere is a multi-layered gaseous envelope of air that covers the whole Earth like a blanket. Biosphere is the life-supporting zone of the Earth where, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere interact and make the life possible. Living things like plants and animals form biotic component of biosphere, whereas non-living things like air, water and land constitute abiotic component of biosphere. . Natural resources are living and non-living components of nature, which are used by human beings to meet their requirements . .

Topics Checklist
./ Resources on the Earth ./ The Breath of Life : Air ./ A Wonder Liquid : Water ./ Soil

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Biogeochemical Cycles Ozone Layer

Natural resources are offollowing two types (0 .Inexhaustible Natural Resources

I ------_::; L------

Those natural resource , which .do. . not get exhausted even after their continuous usage, are called mexhausttb e . natural resources. e.g., air, water, solar energy, etc. (i1) Exhaustible Natural Resources Those natural resources that .ar available in limited quantity and may get depleted by regular an cl. e called exhaustible natural resources. in 1 scnmmate human consumpuon, ar

Exhaustible natural resources arefarther of two kinds . c I . h d t regular intervals. e.g., rarest, Renewable Resources, which get rep ems e a sed cannoc be replem w.ildl.ife , etc. . s Iled . If we do . . Non-renewable Resources, wh1c . h onc lul . h sted eg coal perroleum, arefully, they Wl get ex au " . ' nor use these resources c
:_ rninerals , etc.

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The Breath of Life : Air

Air is a mixmre of many gases like nirrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapours. The prt.'ci se compnslrio11 of th ese gases makes the life possible on Earrh. The composi tion of air on Earrh is nitrogen (N 2 ) 78'}f1, oxygen (02 ) 21 1t11 carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) O.OJ'Vc1, argon 0.9;1'11 and helium , neon , ozone, ammonia constirnre O.O 'Yr 1.
Helium. argon and neon are noble gases.

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The Movem ent of Air : Wind s

Wind s arc rit e rc.'lulr

or changes t liat tak e phcc in l1Ur

All kinds of cells, i.t., cukaryoti c and prokaryoti c need oxygen to breakdown glucose molecules and get: energy for rhcir activities by a process, called respiration. This rclc;1scs carbon dioxide.

:ttmosph cn.: due to hcal'i11g of air and for111:11ion of w3 rcr

vapour. . Winds occur by the follo wing cvt11ts in the 11t1111JJphcre When solar radiaLion s fall 011 th e Ea rt l1, r mjnr i iy 11f rl1csc an:rcfl cc1cd hack or rc-r:idi at cd hy b11d and warer-hodics and some these arc ah. orhcd . lhe1e rdlccrcd solar radiation s heat the atmosplu.:rc frorn below . D11c 10 this, convection curre111s arc ct u p in air. Since, land get s he:m:d foster than wa ter, 1hc air over land wo11ld also be heated fost er tl1:111 t he air over water-bodies. In coastal region s d11ri11g the day, the a ir above rhc land gets heated foster and stnrts rising. As 1his air rises, a region of low pressure is created a nd air ow rhe sea moves into this area of low pressure. The movement of air from one region to 1hc other creates wind s. Direction of wind would he from sea ro die land during the day. A.r night, both land and sea start getting cooled. Since, water cools down slower than land. t he air above the water would be warmer than air above the land. A high pressure area exists above the sc:l-warcr as compared to air over land. Therefore, cooler air over rh sea flows towards the land where low pressure arCJ

The other sources of CO 2 in the air 11/'e Combustion offucl Forest fires Burning of fossil fuels These sources libemte high amormt of CO 2 in tht atmosphm. still thepercentage of carbon dioxide in air is a 11hsol11t efra ction of rt percent because CO 2 isfixed infollowing two w1 1ys (i) Green plants convert carbon dioxide into glucose in rhc presence of sunlight. (ii) Many marine animals use carbonates dissolved in sea-water to make their shells. In planets such as Venus and Mars, no life is known ro exist because the major component of the atmosphere is found to be carbon dioxide (95-97% of the atmosphere) .

or

Atmosphere
The layer of air surrounding the Earrh is called atmosphere. It is divided intofollowing five distinct layers (i) Troposphere extends upto a height of8- 16 km (lower part of atmosphere) (ii) Stratosphere extends upto a height of 30-50 km (iii) Mesosphere extends upto a height of 50-100 km (iv) Thermosphere extends upco a height of I 00-150 km (v) Exosphere extends upto a height of 300 km

C.'XI StS.

Other facrors that influence the wind s arc roracion of Ea sctlc .11 t h c pac h of .rth and Jlrc c of mountar.n ranges 1 wmd.

Significance of Atmosphere
The atmosphere has many significant function s to play, the basic ones such as protection from ultravoilet rays, medium of locomotion, mode of communication, etc. The core significance of atmosphere is given below

Rain
Rainfall occurs by thefallowing events in thr 1111110.'tlrrt Water-bodies arc heated by solar radi:lrion ,Ju rir. the d.a yt 'I I argc amount of wac cr cv:1por,HC'5 r n;r ' 11 goes lllto the air. Air'als } . riir 1 o lJcconics ior due to sunlight and .1.ir . : up alon I t v ' g Wit l water vapours. A!i the :11r r1. -- ( f expand s and cools. This coolin g c:111st"S ihc i.'.r . V:tJJours , 1 . 111 c ot 11n I t 1c air rn cond ense chc rorrn 1 droplets.

Role of Atmospher e in Climate Control The atmosph ere mainly contains air and covers rhe Earth like a protective blanket. The air is a bad conductor of heat. The atmospher e prevents the sudden increase in temperarure during

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nJ the daylight hours. And during night, it slows down the escape

Cone.Icnsauon of wat er i.c: focilit arcd b}' dust a other suspended parricl es which :icr ;is nuckU'

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A]JinOne Natural Resources

An excessive collecrion of tiny droplets of water appears in the form of clouds. Once the water droplet are formed, slowly they grow bigger by the conde satton of these droplets. When che drops have grown big and heavy, they full down in the form of rain. Sometim s when the te perature is low enough, precipitat10n may occur m the form of snow, sleet or hail. Rainfall patterns are decided by the prevailing wind patterns. In large part of our country, rains are mostly brought by the South-West or North-West monsoons . In some areas, rhese are caused by depressions in the Bay of

255
of air'. forming smog. Smog is an indication of air pollut1on. It caus:s greenhouse effect and leads to global warming. Even lichens are sensitive to air pollution and do not grow near industries and areas having high pollution.

Acid Rain
Acid rain is the rain which contains a small amount of acids in it t at .are forme from the gases like nitrogen oxide and sulphur d1ox1de present rn polluted air.These oxides of nitrogen and sulphur are released by industries and combine with rain and fall on the Earth. This rain is poisonous and damages monuments. crops and may also cause skin defects in humans.

Bengal.

Air Pollution
An increase in the content of harmful or undesirable substances (pollutants) in the air is called airpollution. Ir is an undesirable alteration in physical , chemical or biological characteristics of air. Thefallowing activities lead to air pollution Excessive burning of fossil fuels, i.e., coal and petroleum produces high amount of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur (i.e.,N0 2 , 502 ). These oxides mix with air and cause acid rain leading to many harmful effects. Combustion of fossil fuels also increases the amount of suspended particles in the air. These suspended particles could be unburnt carbon particles or substances, called hydrocarbons. . Many industries release high amount of poisonous gases like CO into rhe atmosphere causing air pollution. Forest fires, excessive use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in refrigerators, excessive mining and ore refining release harmful gases into the air leading ro pollution. Dust also causes pollution as inhalation of dust causes allergic asthma, cold or cough and it may mix with smoke and harmful substances and causes pollution.

-Check f!>oint

1-----

1. What do you mean by biosphere? Write its physical divisions. 2. What are the natural resources? State their types. 3. Why life does not exist on other planets like Venus or Mars? 4. Why the air over the land gets heated faster than the air over the water-bodies? 5. What do you mean by acid rain?

A Wonder Liquid : Water

Water is an inexhaustible natural resource. Ir occupies a very large area of the Earth's surface and is also found underground. Some amount of water exists in the form of water vapour in che atmosphere. Most of the water on Earth's surface found in seas and oceans, is saline. Freshwater is found as frozen ice caps at two poles and snow-covered mountains. The underground water and rhe water in rivers, lakes and ponds is also fresh.

Importance of Water for Living Things

Water is essentialfor living things because
It provides a medium for all rhe cellular processes to take place. Ir is necessary for the transportation of substances from one part of the body ro the other in dissolved form. It helps ro maintain body temperature. It is required to maintain bal ance of salts within the body. Terrestrial life forms require freshw uer because their bodies cannot tolerate high amount of dissoh cd salts in saline water.

Effects of Air Pollution

The effects of air pollution are It affects the respiratory system and causes diseases like
cold, asthma, lung cancer and pneumonia. Pollutant gases cause allergies, irritation in eyes and lungs. Burning of fossil fuels releases oxides of nitrogen and s lphur. Inhalation of these gases is dangerous, rhey also dissolve in ram ro gi .ve n.se co ac1 'd ram . .
I

h.e presence of high levels of air pollurants, reduces visibility in cold weather, where water also condense our

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256
AJI the reactions that take place within our body and within
the cells occur between substances that are dissolved in water.

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organisms that

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All the organisms need to maintain the level of water within

their bodies in order to survive. Therefore, warer is essential for the sustenance of life. The availability of water decides not only the number of individuals of each species that are able to survive in a parcicular area, but it :tlso decides the diversity of life there.

. lu de viruses, bactena , ung1, ncmat d me d1seases . . in human . o ti etc and . cause s such prorozo ans ' . id cholera, pund1ce, etc. as typ ho Eurrophication It is a process in which <li ssolvtd n in water gets reduced due to cxc" . oxyge -.s11ve growth of algae as a result of a ext a loadin.g of varied nutrients in the water-body. This excessive growth of algae is called algal bloom. As this cxccssivt growth of algae reduces diss.olved oxygen, living organisms are nor able co survive.

Water Pollution
It is defined as any undesirable change in the physical, biological or chemical qualities of water due ro addition of unwanted and harmful substances that adversely affect living organisms and make it unsuitable for use.

Control of Water Pollution

The following activites help o control the water pollution If sewage and garbage generated by homes and
industries is treated properly before discharging into water sources, it will reduce water pollution and cause less harm co the aquatic life. If hot water generated by the industries is collected at common place, allowed co cool and then discharged in water-bodies, ic will not affect the breeding capacity of aquatic organisms . If commercial areas, factories and industries are shifted to the isolated area far away from residenti areas, it can reduce the effect of water pollution on people.

Causes of Water Pollution

\Vaterpollution is caused due to thefollowing reasons
Rain water dissolves the fertilisers and pesticides from agricuJtural fields and take them to nearby water-bodies, where it causes harmful effects on aquatic life. Dumping of sewage and other wastes into water-bodies. Industries use water for cooling in various machines and later release this water into water-bodies. This cause sudden change in temperature of water that affects the breeding of aquatic organisms.

Effects of Water Pollution

Polluted water can affect the lifefomzs in various ways like
Addition of undesirable substances to water-bodies Fertilisers, pesticides, dirt, sewage, industrial wastes like heavy metals (mercury, lead) and disease-causing bacteria get mixed with the water making it unfit for consumption. Removal of desirable substances &om water-bodies As the amount of organic wastes increases in water, bacteria and other organisms multiply very fasdy and use up the oxygen present in water. This lack of oxygeri kills the fish and other aquatic animals as dissolved oxygen is being used by the animals and plants that live in water. Effect of thermal pollution or change in temperature Sudden marked change in the temperature for which the aquatic organism are used to live in, can be dangerous for them.

-Check oint

2----

1. Why water is called a wonder liquid? 2. What are the various causes of water pollution?

Soil
It is the outermost layer of our Earth (crust), which forms the upper surface of land and supports plant growth. The minerals present in soil can supply a vari.ery of nutrients to life forms. These are formed by breaking of huge rocks. It is an important resource that decides the diversity of life in an area.

For example, it affects breeding of aquatic animals. Disturbance in ecological balance All types of life forms
living in water can get affected by the various types of pollutants that encourage the growth of some life forms and can harm some other life forms. This can disturb the balance between various organisms that exist in that system.

Process Involved in Formation of Soil

Th e rormau on of soil occurs by cI 1e process o ki ' weathering. Weathering is the breakdown of huge roe into smaller mineral particles.

Human diseases Water

pollution provides home to pathogens, which cause infections co humans. Pathogens are

It can occur by following three means . 10!1 (i) Physical Weathering This is the pulvcn s;\er of rocks by mechanical forces, exerted by eir. e

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AJ]fflf}ne Natural Resources

humidity caused by temperature or wetting and drying, freezing of water causing cracks in rocks, Weathering Ir involves chemical 'd . as oxi anon and reduction, carbonation and solublisation of rocks causing their weathering. (iii) Biological Weathering Living organisms also cause weathering, for example, lichens and mosses expand their roots in rocks creating crevices and which further widen up by the growing of higher crees and plants causing the rocks co weather.
(111

257
(iv) Living Organisms
. Living organisms also influence the formation of soil. The lichens grow on the surface of rocks and while growing, they release certain substances that cause the rock surfaces to powder down and form a chin layer of soil. Other small planes like mosses and roots of big trees also break the rocks.

ere. . Chemical

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Constituents of Soil
Soil is a mixture of small particles of rocks, bits of decayed dead organisms (humus) and partially decomposed plant and animal matter (detritus). It also contains various forms of microorganisms. The main constituent of soil are minerals, air, water, organic matter and living organisms. The type of soil is decided by the average size of particles found in it and quality of soil is decided by the amount of humus and microscopic organisms found in it. Humus A dark coloured organic substance consisting partially or wholly decayed plant or animal waste that provides nutrient for plants and increase the ability of soil to retain water, is called humus. Humus plays a major role in deciding the soil structure because it causes soil to become more porous. le is a major factor in deciding the soil structure because it causes the soil co become more porous and allows water and air to penetrate deep underground. The mineral nutrients that are found in a particular soil depend on the rock it was formed from. The nutrient content of a soil, the amount of humus present in it and depth of the soil are some of the factors that decide which plants will grow on that particular soil. Top soil is the topmost layer of the soil that contains hum.us and living organisms in addition to soil particles .The quality of the top soil is an important factor thac decides biodiversity in that area.

Mineral Riches in the Soil

Soil rakes long periods of time to form. For thousands and millions of years, the rocks at or near the surface of the Earth are broken down by various physical, chemical and some biological processes. The end product of this breaking down is the fine particles of soil.

factors Responsible for the Soil Formation For soilformation, following factors are responsible
(i) The Sun (iii) Wind (ii) Water (iv) Living Organisms

(i) The Sun

The Sun heats up rocks during the day, so that they expand. Ac night, these rocks cool down and contract. Since, all the pare of rock do not expand and contract at the same rate, chis results in the formation of cracks and ultimately the huge rocks break up into smaller pieces.

(ii) Water Water helps in the formation of soil in following two ways
Firstly, water could get into cracks in the roe formed due to uneven heating by the Sun. If chis water freezes, it would cause cracks to widen. Secondly, flowing water wears away even hard rock over long periods of time. Fast flowing water often carries big and small particles of rocks downstream. These rocks rub against che other rocks and resultant abrasion causes che rock co brake down into smaller and smaller particles. The water then takes these panicles alongwich it and deposit chem further down.

Replenishment of Soil
Growing the same crop year after year in the same eld makes the soil deficient of certain nutrients, which results m a decrement of crop yield every year. If these. nu.trients are not replenished, the soil.w.ill beco e unfit for culnvanon. Therefore, replenishment of s01l 1s essennal.

Replenishment of soil can be d ne by t efollowing ways

By performing crop rocauon, different crops chat have different requirements of nutrients, are grown on .a .same piece of land during different se sons. Thus, he s01l 1s noc deficient of any particular nucnenc. all the time. Often a pea gram , ere) 1s grown alternately co 0., Iegume crop, (e.u replenish the soil. By leaving the agricultural land f ce.or mculrivated for few seasons, also helps the soil co reg:un its richness.

(iii) Wind
Wind acts similarly as water. Strong winds also erode

r0cks down and also carries sand from one place to the
other like water does.

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of Soil Erosion

Need of Soil for Living Organisms

For living organisms, soil in important becattSe
It provide natural habitat for various living organisms, e.g., bacteria, fungi, algae, earthworms, etc. These help

co maintain the ferriliry of soil. Ir provides nutrient co all living organisms. Earthworm performs all its activities in the soil. It
maintains th.e fertility of soil by releasing nitrogen rich excreta. Many animals like rats, rabbits, etc make their home in the soil. Soil helps co bind the roots of plants to provide them anchorage. The nutrients in soil are absorbed by the --plants for their-growth and development.
All organisms that live in water are totally dependent on soil because the mineral nutrients are present in water in the dissolved form. But, their recycling depends on the decomposers, which are present in soil beds. For this, all water-bodies have soil beds, which contain decomposers for the recycling of nutrients.

. - f fl :I ('f 1 '{ If: 11 y p renttve nmtJ!llt'. i re . lllrntin mur cm:; r '\. l!Ct' 'i i r . Afforest 1uon . . ti.'. ihing Contour Pl lll . Plom:hing l.rn .. 1'! , d i"t , . . ,d m lurr\''' \ ' lope:' ot the bn \c r - tl\ tr"'I' \",!{ r . ti rhe narur. :s 1 I .t: ' i,ltiiv" aw.n ot mp . :-1..,1 a llll wnh . H. pre,enc the \' . " (urri tf( ' i :n ur:< ! E u m t' h'rni .t ,.. Step Farm in e honz.ontal .I,'' :;trtp:.. . . !'U('f . , . Hlrrt.-J . . ! , makinn b,, o f sreps l> l . . . ) 1 1 ro car ch the cksct'ndmg. .\\"..Her. t gt' :; t h llJt l 1 i a1 'c. s1m 1en t" ., r1"111e co rnercobrt mco t te soi ',\th lll'llri h th ( crop. . , Soil CoYer Proptr dramagc c.uu.l "m'u d th .hdJ. n. rhe relllO\ ll of cxct-ss r.ttn\\-,\t h" t ,01,es , -r cht\'u metliocin, 11 drai'n"c 1l formed around che hdd. sn1 _ u "> oC cm Controlled Grazing Grasses rend co bind Sllil p.mid to prevent their erosion. I - on.rgr.1zing i:; .,i[[l,\\\\l. th grasses are uprooted and soil gets erodc..tl.
Step farming is common on h lls be ause i I 11 l. 1,1 :-: speed of rain water. stops soil ero.1 n ar 11 N.'lSt:S \'.JF absorption by the soil.

100

Soil Pollution
Removal of useful components from rhe soil and rhe addition of ocher substances into ir, is called soil pollution. This adversely affects rhe fertility of the.soil and kills the diversity of organisms chat live in ir. Soil also looses irs fertility by the frequent use offertilisers and pesticides over a long period of time. This destroys the soil structure by killing rhe soil microorganisms chat recycle nurrienrs in rhe soil. It also kills rhe earthworms, which are helpful in making the humus rich. Fertile soil can quickly turn barren, if sustainable practices are not followed.

-Check oint
1. Define soil.

3,

2. Write down some methods of prevention of soil erosion. 3. Why it is not advisable to use fertilisers and pesticides over a long period of time? 4. What do you mean by top soil?

Soil Erosion
It is a removal and transportation of rhe top layer of soil
from its original position, due to strong winds or fast running rain water. It normally occurs in barren areas (areas without plane) and this is accelerated in hilly or mountainous regions. It results in desertification and reduction in soil fertility.

Biogeochemical Cycles
These are the cyclic flow of nutrients becwel.'n 11011-lirin en ironmenc (soil, rock, air and w: ner) and living org:1nisins. :'htch makes it dynamic but stable system. Such cyclic tlow involves transfer of matter and energy between the.' ditfrr,nt omponents of biosphere. The four.. main nurric111s l*'Sl'lll 10 na ure are carbon, hyd rogen, m. '. )'gen and nirrogln. whidi constitute 1bot it 9501 f 1 sms. '!"I1 tr:' m d ' . d 10 mass o t vmo- orTa o 1 . . b cycI e ag:lln an again between th e living ;tnd non1\'111 components of ecosystem. '"'

Causes of Soil Erosion

The causes of soil erosion are Strong winds carry fine soil particles from one place co
other. Heavy rains wash up unprotected cop soil into rhe streams and river. Deforestation can also lead to soil erosion. Improper cultivation practices for a long time can cause soil erosion. Excessive extensive farming (when large land is acquired

\'.-k Decomposers play a maj ' gcocItl.'lllt. 1I or ro Ie Ill bm They { pIants and excn.'t;t of" . . . decompos e .t h. e, d 111in1.t1:tr< Dunng this ptocess, . ca(comple.x . J.: or<>;rn1c colllplHJtll . 0 broken down I 1u n1h tnto s1mp c or usable form. Thesl' con 1fll l . l are released ir1t 0 nutnem pool (soil, wan: r)lll1., ll. ,til'. atmosphere) Tl , . l . nl 1111 and the yield is low).

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Natural Resources

259
ain to che simple molecules in the atmosphere is call d che

The Water Cycle

There is a consranr exchange of water berween the . Jand, sea and rhe living organisms. The whole .c h water evaporates an d r c_1 air, in wh1 ails on the . proceSS Jand as rain and later flows back mro sea via rivers is called che ivater cycle. All of che warer thar falls on the land does not jrnmediacely flow back into the sea. Some of it seeps into the soil and becomes a part of the underground reservoir of freshwater. Some of the underground water comes up to the surface through springs or wells. Water is also released by plants through the process of rranspiration.

nitrogen cycle.

Ou r a tmosphere 78% of nitrogen gas a all 1 . contains . ' nd it1s present m I. 1v1 dsg orgamsms m the form of proteins, amino acids and nuc eic ac1 .

Ammonification Ammonia

Nitrogen Cycle in Nature

Nitrogen cycle involvesfollowing important steps

(z) Nitrogen Fixation le is the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into water soluble nitrates and nitrites. This is done by nitrogen fix.ina bacteria or symbiotic bacteria. e.g., Rhizobium, blue green algae, cyanobacceria and Azotobacter. Mose commonly, nitrogen fixing bacteria are found in the roots nodules of leguminous plants such as cereals, pea, bean, etc. Atmospheric nitrogen can also be convened into soluble nitrates and nitrites by physical process. Durina lightning, the high temperature and pressure created in ai convert nitrogen i'nto oxides of nitrogen that gee dissolved in water to give nitric and nitrous acids. (iz) Conversion of Nitrates into Biomolecules The nitrates or nitrites formed are convened into amino acids by planes which get condensed co give proteins and some other nitrogen containing comple.."1: compounds.
(iit) Ammonification

Ground water

Water Cycle in Nature

Water can be seen in water cycle m its all three differenr states. These are
(l) Gaseous State It occurs in the form

of water vapours. Water evaporates from the surface of water-bodies and mixes with air.

(ii) Liquid State Water vapour condense high

up in the atmosphere. It falls on the Earch in the form of rain. (iii) Solid State le is formed by the freezing of liquid droplets in the upper layer of tmosphere. These droplets fall on the Earch in the form of snow, hail or sleet.

The N" trogen Cycle

its he cyclic process in which nitrogen passes from
tnole;;en al form in the atmosphere into simple more es 10 the soil and water, that get convened to complex molecules in living beings and back

It is the process of ammonia formation by decomposing, dead and complex organic matter. This can be done by microorganisms living in the soil. e.g., fungi. putrefying bacteria, ere.

(iv) Nitrification

It is the process of conversion of ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates , by n irrit)1ing bacteria (Nitrosomonas and Nitroba cter).

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(ri)

Science Class 9th Term 11

Oc11il'riflc:1tio11 It is 1hc process of re<ludng 11irra1cs or a mmonia present in the soil to n.:fc;isc 11i1rogc11 gas back i1110 :ttmosphcrc by 111 icroorgan isms such as l'sr1ulrmw11as.

11 .r arbon through different forms by the va . The eye/re ioW OJ c . . bl r10111 1 . I db. /ouict: t l acti vities ts given e ow 10 physutt 1111 a co2 In atmosphere

Importance of Nitrogen Fixation Mosr of 1hc living organisms arc unahlc to use armosphcri c nirrogcn directly. By the process of nitrogen fixation , annosphcric nitrogen can be converted inro ammonia and nitralc, which is taken up by the plants. Planrs convert this nitrate into amino acids, nuclcorides, proteins and other nitrogenous compound. In rhe absence of nitrogen fixation process, these substances (which arc necessary for

Organic compounds (plants)

Carbonates in water Inorganic carbonat es (shells)

structural and functional growth of organisms) will nor be formed . Nirrogen cycle maintains the overall amount of nitrogen conrent in air, soil and water.

Petroleum

Limestone

Carbon Cycle in Nature

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon is found in various forms on the Earth. It occurs in die clcmenrnl form as diamond and graphite. Jn combined strife, carbon isfound as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. as carbonate and hydrogen carbonate salrs in various minerals. as fossil fuel like, coal, petroleum and natural gas. as carbon-containing molecules like proteins, fats, nucleic acids, vitamins and carbohydrates. as cndoskclctons and exoskeletons of various animal s. incorporated in planrs by photosynthesis (a process of conversion of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates in the presence of sunlight by green plants). Planrs perform photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight by urilising atmospheric carbon dioxide. This process converts carbon dioxide from atmosphere into glucose molecules. These glucose molecules arc incorporated into various living organisms through the food chain and provides energy for the synthesis of ocher biologically important molecules.

Grmmlwusc Eff eel and Global Warming

Some gases such as carbon dioxide (C02 ). methane (CH4 ), water vapours, chlorofluorocarbons. etc prevent the escape of heat from the Earth. Such gases in the atmosphere would cause the average temperature to increase worldwide . This is called Greenhouse Effect. An increase in the percentage of greenhouse gases leads to global warming.

The Oxygen Cycle

Oxygen is very abundant element and it forms abou t 21% air of the atmosphere . It is an essential component of most biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids and fats. In Earth's crust, it is found as oxides of most metals and silicon and also as carbonate, sulphate, nitrate and other minerals .It is presenc in combined form as carbon dioxide and water in atmosphere.
Atmosphe ric oxygen (02)

Organic molecules (C5H1205)

Photosynthesis

This absorbed carbon dioxide is released back to the atmosphere by thefallowing process
By the process of respiration, by plants and animals. By the process of decomposition of dead bodies and organic wasrcs by decomposers. By rhc process of combustion (burning) of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum.

Oxygen Cycle in Nature

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en cycle maintains the levels of oxygen in the oxyg c > . h . here. Oxygen 1rom tl le atmosp unosp .sp1 .rat1 .on an dere . 1sl used c up by the ,1 . of com b usu.on, rc 111 t 1e rormation of ,rocess . I des of nitrogen.

Threat to Ozone Layer

Various man-made compound s like C I = < ( b . - wt car compoun ds h both fluorine and chlorine h on avmg rue arc very stable and arc not degraded by any biological proces ) reach the ozone layer. They react with 01.onc molecu\ resulting in the reduction of ozone layer. It resulted in a ho in the ozone layer.

. lanes . . . p Soine forms of life especially bacteria arc poisoned by 'ral oxygen. In presence . d of oxygen even the process of ll den1e . fixing by oes not take place.
nicrog en bacteria

s tl or p ocess, by which t 1e onl y maJ x en is return:d to the atmosph re. fherefore, green 0 yg are the maJOf source of oxygen 111 the atmosphere.

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Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion

The depletion of ozone layer allows the entry of harmful ultraviolet radiations of the Sun on the surface of Earch. Thus, damaging all the living organisms. These harmful ultraviolet radiations can cause cataract and cancer-like diseases to human beings. Recencly, a hole in the ozone layer has been spotted over Amactica.

ozone Layer
Ozone is a triatomic molecule and has formula 03 Its nccntration is higher at height of 20-25 km from sea lavel. hat zone of higher ozone concentration is called ozone layer. It is found in stratophere and also termed as nost1here. It is poisonous but luckily not stable near 0ZO Earth's surface. The amount o atmosp enc ozone 1s measured by Dobson spectrometer and is expressed in Dobson Units (DU).
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-Check oint

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1. What is biogeochemical cycle?

2. What do you mean by ammonification? 3. State the importance of nitrogen fixation in the atmosphere. 4. What is ozone shield? How it is being depleted? 5. Write the contribution of photosynthesis in carbon cycle.

Importance of Ozone
Ozone forms a thick layer (like a shield) in the upper region of atmosphere and absorbs harn:iful ultraviolet (UV) radiations; preventing them from reachmg the s . urface of he Earth. Thus, it helps in protecting life forms by us damaging effects.

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