Biogeochemical Cycles

• Defined: Movement of water through the atmosphere

• 75% of the earth is water

• 99% of water undrinkable (salty & frozen)

• Water recycles over and over

• Water rises into the atmosphere in two ways:– Evaporation: Heat changes water from a liquid to

a gas– Transpiration: Water evaporates from the leaves

of plants through openings called stomata

• Warm, moist air rises and eventually cools– Condensation: process where water vapor turns

into a liquid• Rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls when water drops

become heavy (Precipitation)

• Runoff: Water runs down hill into rivers, lakes, streams, oceans…

• Infiltration: Water soaks into the soil and collects as groundwater

• Process repeats

Animation ChallengeWhose water cycle animation is

better?

Some guy on the Internet???Or

Mr. Kobe’s??

Water evaporates and risesAnimation #1

Condensation: Clouds formsAnimation #1

Precipitation: Water falls(rain, snow, sleet, or hail)

Animation #1

Runoff: Water runs downhillAnimation #1

Infiltration: Water soaks into the soilAnimation #1

Cycle Repeats!Animation #1

The Hydrologic CycleAnimation #2

The Hydrologic CycleAnimation #2

The Hydrologic CycleAnimation #2

The Hydrologic Cycle

RUNOFFINFILTRATION

Animation #2

The Hydrologic CycleAnimation #2

Oxygen Cycle

• Autotrophs: Release O2 into atmosphere via photosynthesis• All life: Absorbs O2 to be used during cellular respiration

– Respiration: creates ATP energy for cells

O2

O2

Carbon Cycle

• Carbon = (organic molecules) carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids

• Plants & autotrophs:– Intake: Absorb CO2 from atmosphere

Create glucose & sugar via photosynthesis– Output: Release CO2 during respiration

CO2

CO2

Carbon Cycle

• Consumers– Intake: Carbon moves up the food chain as 1 feeds on another– Output: Release CO2 during respiration

CO2

CO2C

C

Carbon Cycle

• Decomposers– Input: Feed on dead organic matter– Output: Release CO2 during respiration– Output: Organic molecules returned to soil during decomposition

C C

C

Carbon Cycle

• Human Industry– Output: Release CO2 into atmosphere when fossil fuels (coal, oil,

natural gas) are burned

CO2

Nitrogen Cycle

• N = 78% atmosphere (most unusable)• Soil Bacteria

– Nitrogen fixation: convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia– Nitrification: ammonia converted into nitrates

N2

Ammonia Nitrates

Nitrogen Cycle

• Plants– Absorb nitrates through their roots

Nitrates

Nitrogen Cycle

• Animals– Ingest nitrates through the food chain (plants eaten)

Nitrates

Nitrogen Cycle

• Decomposers– Return ammonia to soil by feeding on dead matter

Ammonia

Ammonia

Ammonia

Nitrogen Cycle

• Lightning– Energy breaks atmospheric nitrogen into Nitrogen oxide– Nitrogen oxide falls in rain to soil

Phosphorus (P) Cycle• No

phosphorus in atmosphere

• Rocks– Phosphorus

released by weathering of rocks

PP

Phosphorus (P) Cycle

• Plants– Absorb P into

their roots

P

Phosphorus (P) Cycle

• Animals– Ingest P when

plants eaten– P continues to

move up food chainP

Phosphorus (P) Cycle• Decomposers

– Breakdown dead matter and release P into soil

PP

Phosphorus (P) Cycle

• Human Contribution– Adding

excess P from fertilizers

– P washes into lakes, etc…

– Excess P causes extreme algae growth

PP

P P

PP

Kobe Kuiz1) Name and define the 6 stages of the water cycle.2) How is oxygen released into the atmosphere?3) In which cellular process is oxygen removed and used

from the atmosphere?4) Which organic molecule is created by photosynthesis?5) In which cellular process is carbon dioxide released into

the atmosphere?6) How are humans disrupting the carbon cycle?7) How does nitrogen fixation and nitrification differ?8) How do plants obtain nitrogen?9) Which objects release phosphorus over time?10) How are humans disrupting the phosphorus cycle?