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APES 1: Biogeochemical Cycles

  • involve the movement of matter via biological, chemical, and geological processes

  • sources

    • anything that releases more of the biogeochemical substance than it absorbs

  • sinks

    • anything that absorbs more of the biogeochemical substance than it releases

Hydrologic (water) cycle

  • powered by the sun

  • movement of water between sources and sinks

  • water can move in its three phases (gas, liquid, or solid)

  • solar heating

  • evapotranspiration

  • cool/cloud formation

  • precipitation

    • form of rain

  • plant uptake/runoff/infiltration

Carbon cycle

  • movement of atoms and molecules containing the element carbon between sources and sinks

  • some reservoirs hold carbon for long and short periods of time

  • cycles between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in living organisms

  • decomposition: storage of carbon over millions of years

  • the 7 processes that drive the carbon cycle

    • photosynthesis & respiration

      • producers uptake CO2 and respire some back through cellular respiration or death

    • exchange, sedimentation & burial

      • c exchanged between atmosphere and ocean

    • extraction & combustion

      • human activities (fossil fuels)

      • fires & volcanoes

Nitrogen cycle

  • movement of atoms and molecules containing nitrogen between sources and sinks

  • nitrogen reservoirs hold compounds for a (relatively) short amount of time

  • nitrogen fixation: the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form of N (usually ammonia) that is available for uptake by plants

  • the atmosphere is a major reservoir of N

Phosphorus cycle

  • movement of atoms and molecules containing phosphorus between sources and sinks

  • major reservoirs of phosphorus are rocks and sediments (no atmosphere component)

  • phosphorus is naturally scarce in aquatic & terrestrial ecosystems - limiting factor

APES 1: Biogeochemical Cycles

  • involve the movement of matter via biological, chemical, and geological processes

  • sources

    • anything that releases more of the biogeochemical substance than it absorbs

  • sinks

    • anything that absorbs more of the biogeochemical substance than it releases

Hydrologic (water) cycle

  • powered by the sun

  • movement of water between sources and sinks

  • water can move in its three phases (gas, liquid, or solid)

  • solar heating

  • evapotranspiration

  • cool/cloud formation

  • precipitation

    • form of rain

  • plant uptake/runoff/infiltration

Carbon cycle

  • movement of atoms and molecules containing the element carbon between sources and sinks

  • some reservoirs hold carbon for long and short periods of time

  • cycles between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in living organisms

  • decomposition: storage of carbon over millions of years

  • the 7 processes that drive the carbon cycle

    • photosynthesis & respiration

      • producers uptake CO2 and respire some back through cellular respiration or death

    • exchange, sedimentation & burial

      • c exchanged between atmosphere and ocean

    • extraction & combustion

      • human activities (fossil fuels)

      • fires & volcanoes

Nitrogen cycle

  • movement of atoms and molecules containing nitrogen between sources and sinks

  • nitrogen reservoirs hold compounds for a (relatively) short amount of time

  • nitrogen fixation: the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form of N (usually ammonia) that is available for uptake by plants

  • the atmosphere is a major reservoir of N

Phosphorus cycle

  • movement of atoms and molecules containing phosphorus between sources and sinks

  • major reservoirs of phosphorus are rocks and sediments (no atmosphere component)

  • phosphorus is naturally scarce in aquatic & terrestrial ecosystems - limiting factor

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