Biogeochemical Cycles

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon (usually in the form of CO2) moves between the atmosphere, plants, animals, and the soil.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants, algae, and bacteria use CO2 from the atmosphere to produce energy.

Decomposition

The breakdown of wastes and dead organisms by fungi, bacteria, and worms to recycle their components.

Fossil Fuels

Long-term storage of carbon in materials like coal, oil, and peat, used by humans for energy production.

Deforestation

Human activity that leads to excess CO2 release from plants, affecting biodiversity and causing climate change.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process of converting N2 gas from the atmosphere into usable compounds for plants.

Denitrifying Bacteria

Bacteria that convert nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen (N2) in the nitrogen cycle.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water between the earth's surface and the atmosphere through processes like evaporation, transpiration, and precipitation.

Pollution

High levels of pollutants in the air can lower water quality, affecting human health and biodiversity.

Precipitation and Runoff

Processes in the water cycle that contribute to the spread of pollutants from land to rivers, lakes, and oceans.