BIOGEOCHEMICAL

CYCLE
 How humans affect biogeochemical cycles?

Biogeochemical cycles are subject to disturbance by

human activities. Humans accelerate natural
biogeochemical cycles when elements are extracted from
their reservoirs, or sources, and deposited back into the
environment.
For example, humans have significantly altered the
carbon cycle by extracting and combusting billions of
tons of hydrocarbons in fossil that were buried deep in
the Earth's crust, in addition to clearing vegetation that
stores carbon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=GXGPL0sZ3CY&app=desktop
 4 MAIN CARBON RESERVOIRS IN
BIOSPHERE

• Oceans - CO2 gas

• Atmosphere - dissolved CO2 gas
• Land- organism, rocks and soil
• Underground as coal, petroleum and
calcium carbonate rocks.
 CO2 COMES FROM

• Human activity (burning fossil fuel)

• Cellular Respiration
• Decomposition of dead organism
• Volcanic Activity
 The importance of carbon is
found in all the building blocks of
cells, carbohydrates, proteins,
nucleic acids and lipids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=mUVX5rg1E0I&app=desktop
• Free oxygen in the biosphere (0.01%) and atmosphere
(0.36%).
• The main source of atmospheric free oxygen is
photosynthesis. Photosynthesizing organisms include
the plant life of the land areas as well as the oceans.
• Additional source of atmospheric free oxygen comes
from photolysis
Largest reservoir of Earth's oxygen is
within the silicate and oxide
minerals of the crust and mantle
(99.5%).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LbBgPekjiyc&app=desktop
NITROGEN CYCLE
• Nitrogen is essential in making DNA and
RNA Adenine which is use in ATP.
• It makes part of amino acids which is
protein.
• 79% of the atmosphere is made up of
Nitrogen gas (N2)
• The bond in N2 gas is so strong that it can
only be broke by lightning, volcanic activity,
and a few special bacteria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzo-
uFS7LUA&app=desktop
Phosphorus forms part of the phospholipids in cell membranes,
makes up the "backbone" of DNA and RNA along with sugar, and
provides energy for cells as ATP.
Animals excrete phosphorus in waste.
Decomposers release phosphorus from decaying plants and
animals, returning the phosphorus to the soil where it can be taken
up by plants. The plants, in turn, are consumed by animals,
completing the cycle.
 Phosphorus is essential for life.
Component of DNA
Building
Phosphorusblock of our bones
is mainly found and teeth.soil, and rock.
in water,
Unlike the other cycles, phosphorus cannot be found in
air in the gaseous state.
•
• The phosphorus cycle is the SLOWEST cycle
• Phosphorus is most commonly found in rock
formations and ocean sediments as phosphate salts.
• P
 Impact of humans to Phosphorus cycle.
Like nitrogen, increased use of fertilizers increases
phosphorus runoff into our waterways and contributes
to eutrophication.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=y5gFI3pMvoI&app=desktop
• The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle,
collects, cleans, and circulates all of the earth’s water
supply.
• The water cycle is powered by the sun and by
gravity.
•
Organic reservoirs
Lakes
•
• Rivers
• Streams
•
• Oceans
•
• Water tables
•
Evaporation: water to water vapor

Transpiration: evaporation of water from

plants

Condensation: water vapor to water

drops

Precipitation: rain, sleet, hail, and snow

Infiltration: water soaks into soil
Impact of Human Intervention On the Water Cycle
Clear land for mining, road and building construction,
agriculture
Increase runoff

 Reduces infiltration in ground water

 Increase risk of flooding

 Increase soil erosion and land slides


https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TNTTJ4N3kIE&app=desktop
• H2S is immediately oxidized to sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• SO2 and water vapor makes H2SO4 ( a weak sulfuric acid), which is
then carried to Earth in rainfall.
•
• Sulfur in soluble form is taken up by plant roots and incorporated
into amino acids such as cysteine. It then travels through the food
chain and is eventually released through decomposition.
•
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