APES LCV 2021-2022 John O

The Geologic Cycle

• The Geologic Cycle:
– The processes responsible for formation and
change of Earth materials
– A group of cycles:
• Tectonic
• Rock
• Hydrologic
• Biochemical
– Interaction between APES Unit 4 (Earth’s
Systems & Resources) and Unit 1 (The Living
World - Ecosystems)
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Tectonic Cycle
Creation and destruction of the Lithosphere
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
The Rock Cycle
• The rock cycle:
– Numerous processes that produce rocks and
soils
– Depends on other cycles:
• Tectonic cycle for energy
• Hydrologic cycle for water for erosion
– Rock is classified as
• Igneous – high heat, volcanic
• Sedimentary – weathering & erosion
• Metamorphic – compact, melting
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
How Chemicals Cycle
• Biogeochemical Cycles
The complete path chemicals takes through
the four major components – or reservoirs – of
Earth’s systems
1. Atmosphere
2. Hydrosphere
3. Lithosphere
4. Biosphere
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Biogeochemical Cycles and Life:
Limiting Factors
• Macronutrients
– Elements required in large amounts by all life
– Include the “big six” elements that form the fundamental building
blocks of life:
carbon oxygen hydrogen phosphorus nitrogen sulfur
• Micronutrients
– Elements required either in:
• small amounts by all life or
• moderate amounts by some forms of life and not all by others
• Limiting factor
– When chemical elements are not available at the right times, in
the right amounts, and in the right concentrations relative to each
other
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Major (Biogeo)Chemical Cycles

• Water (hydrologic)
• Carbon
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• (Sulphur - not necessary for APES)
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
The Hydrologic Cycle
• The Hydrologic Cycle:
– The transfer of water from the oceans to the
atmosphere to the land and back to the
oceans. POWERED BY THE SUN !!
– Includes different processes:
• Evaporation
• Condensation
• Precipitation
• Runoff
• Transpiration
• Infiltration
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Human Impacts on Hydrologic Cycle
• Withdrawal:
– Removal for society & industry faster than recharged
(overdraft)
• Increased flooding:
– Removal of wetlands & creating non-porous tracts
• Deforestation:
– Clearing land reduces transpiration, therefore there is
a decrease in precipitation.
• Diversion
– Dams and irrigation
• Climate change
– Impacts evaporation and precipitation
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
The Carbon Cycle
• Fourth most abundant element in the
universe
• Building block of life
• Cycles through the geosphere,
biosphere, ocean and atmosphere
• Two types of cycling
– Geological carbon cycle
– Biological carbon cycle
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Geological Carbon Cycle
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
How does this work?
• CO2 reacts with atmospheric water and
minerals to produce calcium carbonate.
• Calcium carbonate rock (limestone)
weathered by water – dissolves and
travels to ocean.
• Forms sedimentary layers in the ocean.
Through plate tectonics, sediments
subduct and melt.
• Carbon is released into the atmosphere
during volcanic eruption as CO2
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Biological Carbon Cycle - Land
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Biological Carbon Cycle - Water
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Biological Carbon Cycle
• The Biological Carbon Cycle:

– Interaction between different processes:

• Photosynthesis
• Food chain transfers
• Cell respiration
• Decomposition
• Sedimentation
• (Combustion)
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Carbon Reservoirs

• Ocean – dissolved, calcium carbonate

of marine organisms shells
• Geosphere – soils, fossil fuels
• Biosphere – living organisms
• Atmosphere – 0.04% of troposphere is
carbon dioxide

Don’t forget that methane CH4 is also a Carbon compound.

 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Human impacts on Carbon Cycle

• Increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

by:
– Burning of fossil fuels
– Clear cutting of trees and changing land use
– Using limestone to make concrete
• Decreases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
by:
– Sequestration (agriculture and forestry)
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Human impacts on Carbon Cycle
rough numbers
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
The Nitrogen Cycle
• The nitrogen cycle:
– Nitrogen availability is often the limiting factor for
primary productivity
– Two forms of nitrogen compounds as nutrients: NH4
and NO3
– Conversion of N2 gas into nutrients – lightning &
nitrogen fixing bacteria
• Nitrogen reservoirs:
– Atmosphere
• 78% of Troposphere
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Common Nitrogen Compounds
• N2 - nitrogen gas
• NH4 - ammonium
• NH3 - ammonia
• NO3 - nitrate
• NO2 - nitrite
• N2O - nitrous oxide
• NO2 - nitrogen dioxide
• HNO3 - nitric acid
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Processes in the Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen fixation (gain)
– N2 converted to NH4 or NH3 by bacteria
• Putrefaction & Ammonification
– Decomposers turn organic material into NH4
or NH3
• Nitrification
– Bacteria convert NH4 & NH3 into NO3 for plant
uptake
• Denitrification (loss)
– Bacteria convert NH4 & NH3 into N2 & N2O
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Nitrogen Cycle
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Nitrogen Fixation (Gain)
• In order to be used by most living organisms
nitrogen must by in the form of NH4 or NO3
(ammonium or nitrate compounds)
• Nitrogen is ‘fixed’ by lightning or bacteria. It
is converted to NH3 or NO3.
• ‘Fixing’ allows nitrogen to be made
biologically available.
• Nitrogen fixing bacteria can be found in the
nodules on the roots of legumes.
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Putrefaction & Ammonification

• Decomposing bacteria convert dead

organisms and other waste to ammonia
(NH3) or ammonium compounds (NH4).
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Nitrification

• Soil bacteria convert ammonium

compounds (NH4+) into a form that
plants can use - nitrate compounds
(NO3-)
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Assimilation
• Plants absorb ammonium (NH3), ammonia
(NH4) and nitrate (NO3) through their roots.
• Heterotrophs (or organisms that receive
energy from consuming other organisms)
obtain their nitrogen compounds by
consuming plant proteins or other animals.
• Living organisms use inorganic nitrogen
compounds to synthesise organic nitrogen
compounds such as amino acids (and
proteins) and DNA.
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Denitrification (Loss)

• Specialized bacteria (anaerobic)

convert nitrates to nitrites THEN back
into nitrogen gas and nitrous oxide,
where they enter the atmosphere.
• Commonly in saturated soils

• NO → NO → NO → N O → N
3 2 2 2
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Human Impacts on Nitrogen Cycle
● Excess Nitrates
○ animal waste, municipal discharge
○ promotes eutrophication
● Burning of Fossil Fuels
○ Released NO, NO2 and HNO3
○ NO2 is a potent greenhouse gas
○ nitrous gases cause photochemical
smog
● Excessive use of inorganic
fertilizers
○ Increases denitrification by
anaerobic bacteria, and therefore
releases more NO2 into the
atmosphere.
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
12
Nitrogen Fluxes tg year (10 gms)
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
The Phosphorous Cycle
• The phosphorous cycle:
– Involves the movement of phosphorous throughout the
biosphere and lithosphere
– NO phosphorous transfers in the atmosphere
– Phosphorous is an essential element for life and,
because it is scarce, it often is a limiting nutrient for
plant growth.
– Phosphorous is incorporated into cell membranes,
ATP and phospholipids is critical for cell and organism
functioning.
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Phosphorous Reservoirs

• Ocean sediments
• Terrestrial rock
layers
• Soils
– Erosion releases PO4
for producers
– Limiting factor for
primary productivity
APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Guano Island
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Human Impacts on Phosphorous cycling
 APES LCV 2021-2022 John O
Phosphorous Cycle - the Numbers