Biogeochemical Cycles

The continuous exchange of carbon and oxygen from non-living environment and to the living.

Organisms break down glucose for energy. Oxygen is the input, carbon dioxide output.

When oxygen is absent glucose breaks down with a catalyst releasing energy.

When atmospheric carbon reacts with water, forming carbonic acid in the ocean.

It can erode away skeletons and rocks in ecosystems.

Store carbon for a period of time.

Plants, animals, oceans.

Organisms combine food molecules and oxygen, gives off carbon dioxide. Basically plant breathing.

The continuous movement of water on and above the Earth’s surface powered by the sun.

Plants use the sun’s energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars.

Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, transpiration, surface run-off.

Liquid to gas, molecules rise into the air in the form of water vapour.

Gas to liquid, water cools and forms clouds.

When cloud is fully condensed, water falls in the form of rain, sleet, snow etc.

Water soaks into the ground collecting in layers of rock.

Groundwater is absorbed by plant roots when water evaporates from plants, photosynthesis.

Water that cannot soak into the ground, flows across land.

• Deforestation: evaporation is disrupted, decreased precipitation, decreased respiration.

• Enhanced Greenhouse Effects: Earth’s temperature rises and therefore so does the evaporation rate.

The process of how nitrogen changes forms as it is recycled through the biosphere.

It is crucial for forming proteins.

Inorganic: Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere. Organic: Wastes & living and dead organisms.

Nitrogen fixing

Nitrifying

Denitrifying

Nitrogen fixing bacteria take up atmospheric nitrogen, converting it to ammonia.

Nitrogen FixationLightning

Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonia to nitrite and nitrate ions.

Plants absorb ammonium, nitrate, and nitrites.

Decomposers return nitrogen to soil by converting compounds in dead organisms to ammonia.

Denitrifying bacteria converts nitrates and nitrites to nitrogen gas, releasing it into the atmosphere.

By feeding on plants that have nitrogen in their roots, they get their nitrogen. Then the food chain continues this process.

Synthetic fertilisers where atmospheric nitrogen reacts with hydrogen, turning it to ammonia.

Excessive nutrients in water, leading to excessive bacterial growth.

Burning fossil fuels, nitrogen fertilisers, agriculture.

Water become excessively enriched with minerals and nutrients.

Algae colonies that grow out of control, producing toxic or harmful effects on living organisms.

The process of transformation and locations of phosphorus through the hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.

Required for ATP energy, nucleic acids, cell membranes, and bones.

Phosphorus cycle.

Rocks release phosphate ions and minerals.

Plants take inorganic phosphate from soil for use.

Dead organisms wastes decompose and organic phosphate is returned to the soil.

Organic forms of phosphate are given to plants via bacteria. This bacteria breaks down organic matter into inorganic phosphate.

Phosphorus can form rocks and end up in sediments.

Mining for phosphorus, relocating it. Altering the distribution of phosphorus.