Natural biogeochemical cycles

Biogeochemical Cycles:

• In this cycle, any of the natural ways by which essential elements of living things and
matter are circulated.

• The term biogeochemical is a contraction that refers to the consideration of the

biological, geological, and chemical aspects of each cycle.

• Elements within biogeochemical cycles flow in various forms from the nonliving
(abiotic) components of the biosphere to the living (biotic) components and back.

Carbon Cycle:

The carbon cycle is most easily studied as two interconnected sub cycles: one dealing with rapid
carbon exchange among living organisms and the other dealing with the long-term cycling of
carbon through geologic processes.

Impacts and Issues:

As the result global climate changes, both the reservoirs and transformations between reservoirs
of all the biogeochemical cycles are affected. For example, reliance on petroleum products is
causing widespread changes to the carbon biogeochemical cycle. The large reservoir of carbon
bound in fossilized plant material is being used at rapid rates through the burning of petroleum
products as a result this combustion adds carbon in the form of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
The size of the atmospheric carbon reservoir has increased significantly since the Industrial
Revolution began in the late 1700s. The additional carbon in the atmosphere from the
consumption of carbon in fossil fuels and forests is the major suspected cause of global climate
change.

Nitrogen Cycle:

The nitrogen that enters living systems is eventually converted from organic nitrogen back into
nitrogen gas by bacteria. The process of denitrification is when bacteria convert the nitrates into
nitrogen gas, thus allowing it to re-enter the atmosphere.

Phosphorus Cycle:

In nature, phosphorus exists as the phosphate ion (PO43-). Weathering of rocks and volcanic
activity releases phosphate into the soil, water, and air, where it becomes available to terrestrial
food webs. Phosphate enters the oceans in surface runoff, groundwater flow, and river flow.
Phosphate dissolved in ocean water cycles into marine food webs. Some phosphate from the
marine food webs falls to the ocean floor, where it forms sediment.
Impacts and Issues of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycle:

The cycling of nitrogen and sulfur are linked to acid rain, which results from burning fossil fuels.
Both the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles are also significantly affected by the spread of fertilizer
on agricultural fields, contributing to high nutrient runoff and eutrophication (over-enrichment
with minerals and nutrients) of lakes and rivers. This causes a great harm to plant life and also
causes degeneration of the monuments made by marble like Taj Mehal is an example of this.

Sulfur Cycle:

Sulfur dioxide from the atmosphere becomes available to terrestrial and marine ecosystems when
it is dissolved in precipitation as weak sulfuric acid or when it falls directly to Earth as fallout.
Weathering of rocks also makes sulfates available to terrestrial ecosystems. Decomposition of
living organisms returns sulfates to the ocean, soil, and atmosphere. 

Impacts and Issues:

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a colorless, bad-smelling, toxic gas, is part of a larger group of chemicals
referred to as sulfur oxides. These gases, especially SO2, are emitted by the burning of fossil
fuels, coal, oil, and diesel or other materials that contain sulfur.

Water Cycle:

Water from the land and oceans enters the atmosphere by evaporation or sublimation, where it
condenses into clouds and falls as rain or snow. Precipitated water may enter freshwater bodies
or infiltrate the soil. The cycle is complete when surface or groundwater reenters the ocean.

Impacts and Issues:

Water cycle processes involved are highly dependent on temperature; changes in one have
consequences on the other. Specifically, as global temperatures have steadily increased at their
fastest rates in millions of years, it’s directly affected things like water vapor concentrations,
clouds, precipitation patterns, and stream flow patterns, which are all related to the water cycle.
Climate change boost this cycle because warmer air can hold more water vapor, which can lead
to more intense rainstorms, causing major problems like extreme flooding in coastal
communities around the world.

Law of Conversation of Matter:

Law of conversation of matter states that matter is not created nor destroyed only rearranged or
recycled.