Biogeochemical

Cycles
(Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
Sulfur)
 What is a biogeochemical cycle?
O A biogeochemical cycle is the continual
recycling of nutrients through the air, water,
rock, soil, and living organisms.

O All of these nutrients are essential to life.

O No new molecules are created – what we

have is what was here at the beginning.
The Water Cycle
 The Water Cycle
O Groundwater is water that sinks into the soil
and is stored in aquifers.

O An aquifer is a groundwater storage area.

Humans alter the water cycle by…
O Withdrawing large quantities of
freshwater for agriculture leading to
groundwater depletion.
O Clearing vegetation for agriculture, roads,
building, and mining.
O Covering land with buildings and
concrete which increases runoff, and
prevents water from becoming ground
water.
O Altering the quality of the water by the
addition of nutrients from chemicals and
pollutants.
The Carbon Cycle
Humans alter the carbon cycle by…

O Clearing trees therefore, the trees cannot

remove the carbon dioxide from the air

O Burn fossil fuels which release a large

amount of carbon into the air
 Carbon cycle
Carbon (C) enters the biosphere during photosynthesis:

CO2 + H2O ------------> C6H12O6 + O2 + H2O

(carbon dioxide+ water) (sugar + oxygen + water)

Carbon is returned to the biosphere in cellular respiration:

O2 + H2O + C6H12O6---> CO2 + H2O + energy

 Carbon Facts
Every year there is a measurable difference in
the concentration of atmospheric CO2 with changes
in the seasons.

For example, in winter there is almost no

photosynthesis ( higher CO2 )

During the growing season there is a

measurable difference in the concentration of
atmospheric CO2 over parts of each day.
The Phosphorous
Cycle
Humans alter the phosphorus cycle
by…
O Mining for phosphate rock to make inorganic
fertilizers

O Cutting down tropical trees reduces the

amount of phosphorus in the tropical soil

O Runoff from animal wastes, fertilizers, and

sewage add phosphorus to aquatic systems
 Excess phosphorus and nitrogen that enter
these ecosystems from fertilizer runoff and from
sewage cause excessive growth of algae.

The subsequent death and decay of these

organisms depletes dissolved oxygen, which leads to
the death of aquatic organisms such as shellfish and
fish.

This process is responsible for dead zones in

lakes and at the mouths of many major rivers and for
massive fish kills, which often occur during the
summer months
The Sulfur Cycle
 Water
Sulfur trioxide Sulfuric acid Air Pollutant Acidic fog and
precipitation

Ammonia Ammonium
sulfate
Oxygen
Sulfur dioxide Hydrogen
sulfide

Plants

Volcano
Dimethyl
sulfide Industries Animals

Ocean

Sulfate salts

Decaying
Metallic matter Sulfur
sulfide
deposits
Hydrogen
sulfide

Industry, burning fossil fuels add sulfur to atmosphere

Humans alter the sulfur cycle by…

O Burning coal and oil to create electricity

which releases sulfur into the air

O Refining petroleum to create gasoline

O Creating metals from ores

The Nitrogen Cycle
 The Nitrogen Cycle
O Nitrogen in the air is in the form of N2 which is
unusable to plants and animals.
O The N2 needs to be converted to a useable form
– this is done by
1) lightning
2) bacteria in the water and soil.

O Nitrogen fixation
– bacteria in the soil convert N2 to NH3 so
that plants can use it

O Nitrification
– bacteria take the NH3 and turn it into nitrite
(NO2 - toxic) and nitrate (NO3) ions
 The Nitrogen Cycle
Assimilation
– Plants absorb the ammonia and
nitrate; animals get nitrogen by eating plants
Ammonification
– decomposer bacteria take animal and
plant wastes and turn it into ammonia
Denitrification
– ammonia is converted into nitrites
and nitrates and then to N2 where it is released
into the air
 Nitrogen Facts
O Plants need nitrogen in the form of nitrates
to make nucleic acids (DNA) and amino
acids.
O Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the
atmosphere.
O Nitrogen must be fixed or converted into a
usable form.
O Nitrogen (N) is an essential constituent of
protein, DNA, RNA, and chlorophyll.
 Humans alter the nitrogen cycle by…
O Burning fuel releases nitric oxide (NO) which
converts to (HNO3) in the atmosphere and falls
back to the earth as acid rain

O Using inorganic fertilizers which releases N2O

(nitrous oxide) into the atmosphere which depletes
the ozone layer
Humans alter the nitrogen cycle by…
Destroy forests, grasslands, and wetlands which
releases the N in the soil and the plants

Agricultural runoff and sewage goes into waterways

and the nitrates disrupt the aquatic ecosystems

When working with crops (irrigating, harvest, burn

to create room for) nitrogen is taken from the
topsoil.