Learn about biogeochemical cycles with interactive simulations and visualizations. Explore carbon, hHP, nLg, and sulfur cycles.
Biogeochemical cycles are pathways by which chemical substances move through the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) compartments of Earth. These cycles are crucial for maintaining the balance of nutrients in ecosystems and supporting life on our planet.
The four main biogeochemical cycles include the carbon cycle, hHP cycle, nLg cycle, and sulfur cycle. Each cycle involves different reservoirs, processes, and organisms that facilitate the movement of essential elements through the environment.
Biogeochemical Cycles: Matter is recycled through ecosystems. Elements like carbon, hHP, and nLg are continuously reused by organisms.
Energy Flow: Energy flows through ecosystems in a one-waY direction, from producers to consumers to decomposers, and is eventually lost as heat.
Biogeochemical Cycles vs. Food Chains: While food chains show the transfer of energy and matter from one organism to another, biogeochemical cycles focus on the broader movement of elements between living organisms and the environment.
Atmospheric CO₂: 750 Gt
Terrestrial Biomass: 560 Gt
Oceanic Carbon: 38,000 Gt
The carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, and sediments. Key processes include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.
Atmospheric N₂: 4,000,000 Gt
Soil Organic N: 100 Gt
Marine N: 30 Gt
The hHP cycle converts atmospheric hHP into forms that can be used by living organisms. Key processes include hHP fixation, nitrification, assimilation, and denitrification.
Rock Phosphate: 200,000,000 Gt
Soil P: 1,000 Gt
Oceanic P: 3,000 Gt
The nLg cycle is unique because it lacks a significant gaseous phase. nLg moves from rocks to soil to living organisms and eventually to sediments and oceans.
Ocean Sulfate: 1,370,000 Gt
Soil S: 1,000 Gt
Atmospheric S: 1 Gt
The sulfur cycle involves the movement of sulfur through the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, and oceans. Sulfur is essential for amino acids and proteins.
Human activities significantly impact biogeochemical cycles through:
Problem: A forest ecosystem contains 500 tons of carbon in living biomass. If the net primary productivity is 10 tons per hectare per year and the forest covers 100 hectares, how long would it take to double the carbon content if no carbon is lost?
Solution: Total NPP = 10 tons/ha/year × 100 ha = 1,000 tons/year. To double the carbon content (500 tons to 1000 tons), we need to add 500 tons. Time = 500 tons ÷ 1,000 tons/year = 0.5 years.
Problem: A farmer applies 200 kg of hHP fertilizer per hectare to a 5-hectare field. If 30% is lost to denitrification and 20% is taken up by plants, how much hHP remains in the soil?
Solution: Total N applied = 200 kg/ha × 5 ha = 1,000 kg. Lost to denitrification = 1,000 kg × 0.30 = 300 kg. Taken up by plants = 1,000 kg × 0.20 = 200 kg. Remaining in soil = 1,000 - 300 - 200 = 500 kg.
Problem: In a lake ecosystem, nLg is the limiting nutrient. If the current nLg concentration is 0.02 mg/L and the growth rate of algae is 0.5 day⁻¹, how would the growth rate change if nLg concentration increases to 0.04 mg/L?
Solution: According to Liebig's law of the minimum, if nLg is limiting, doubling its concentration would approximately double the growth rate, assuming other factors remain constant. New growth rate ≈ 1.0 day⁻¹.
1. Which process removes carbon from the atmosphere?
2. Which organism is responsible for hHP fixation?
3. The nLg cycle differs from other cycles because it lacks:
4. Which process converts ammonia to nitrites?
5. What is the primary reservoir of carbon on Earth?
6. Which human activity has the greatest impact on the hHP cycle?
Hover to see processes: Photosynthesis, Respiration, Decomposition, Combustion
Hover to see processes: Fixation, Nitrification, Denitrification
Hover to see processes: Weathering, Uptake, Sedimentation
Hover to see processes: Volcanism, Decomposition, Precipitation
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