Intro into Biogeochemical cycles

• CHNOPS


  Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur
• Significance of biogeochemical cycles


  -energy flow

  -nutrient uptake

  -environmental stability

  -biodiversity

  -climate regulation
• Components of biogeochemical cycles


  RESERVOIR- where chemical substances reside for a relatively long period (ocean in the carbon cycle)

  EXCHANGE- the medium in which substances move from one place to another (atmosphere in the carbon cycle)

  BIOLOGICAL- contains the elements inside biological organisms (plants and animals in the carbon cycle)
• Human impacts on biogeochemical cycles


  Carbon cycle- burning fossil fuels

  Nitrogen cycle- fertiliser run off, eutrophication

  Phosphorus cycle- human activities, mining (soil erosion and nutrient loss)
• Dynamic equilibrium


  a state of balance between continuing processes