Chapter 5

The Biogeochemical Cycles

Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

How Chemicals Cycle

Biogeochemical Cycle
The complete path a chemical takes through
the four major components or reservoirs
of Earths systems
1.
2.
3.
4.

Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Chemical Reactions
Chemical reaction:
The process in which new chemicals are
formed from elements and compounds
through chemical change

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Biogeochemical Cycles and Life

Macronutrients
Elements required in large amounts by all life
Include the big six elements that form the fundamental building
blocks of life:

Carbon
oxygen
hydrogen
phosphorus
nitrogen
sulfur
Micronutrients
Elements required either in
small amounts by all life or
moderate amounts by some forms of life and not all by others

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Limiting Factor
When chemical elements are not available
at the right times, in the right amounts, and
in the right concentrations relative to each
other

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

The Geologic Cycle

The Geologic Cycle:
The processes responsible for formation and
change of Earth materials
Best described as a group of cycles:

Tectonic
Hydrologic
Rock
Biochemical

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Tectonic Cycle
Tectonic cycle:
Involves creation and destruction of the solid
outer layer of Earth, the lithosphere

Plate tectonics:
The slow movement of these large segments
of Earths outermost rock shell
Boundaries between plates are geologically
active areas
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Tectonic Cycle: Plate Boundaries

Divergent plate boundary:
Occurs at a spreading ocean ridge, where plates are
moving away from one another
New lithosphere is produced (seafloor spreading)

Convergent plate boundary

Occurs when plates collide
Produces linear coastal mountain ranges or continental
mountain ranges

Transform fault boundary

Occurs where one plate slides past another
San Andreas Fault in California
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

The Hydrologic Cycle

The Hydrologic Cycle:
The transfer of water from the oceans to the
atmosphere to the land and back to the
oceans. Includes:

Evaporation of water from the oceans

Precipitation on land
Evaporation from land
Runoff from streams, rivers, and sub-surface
groundwater
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

The Rock Cycle

The rock cycle:
Numerous processes that produce rocks and
soils
Depends on other cycles:
tectonic cycle for energy
Hydrologic cycle for water

Rock is classified as
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon is the element that anchors all
organic substances
The carbon cycle:
Carbon combines with and is chemically and
biologically linked with the cycles of oxygen
and hydrogen that form the major compounds
of life

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

The Carbon Cycle:

Unanswered Issues
The Missing Carbon Sink
Substantial amounts of carbon dioxide
released into the atmosphere but apparently
not reabsorbed and thus remaining
unaccounted for

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

The Carbon-Silicate Cycle

The carbon-silicate cycle:
A complex biogeochemical cycle over time scales as
long as one-half billion years.
Includes major geological processes, such as:

Weathering
Transport by ground and surface waters
Erosion
Deposition of crustal rocks

Believed to provide important negative feedback

mechanisms that control the temperature of the
atmosphere.
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

The Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle:
Cycle responsible for moving important nitrogen
components through the biosphere and other Earth
systems
Extremely important because nitrogen is required by
all living things

Nitrogen fixation:
The process of converting inorganic, molecular
nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia or nitrate

Denitrification:
The process of releasing fixed nitrogen back to
molecular nitrogen
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

The Phosphorus Cycle

The phosphorus cycle:
Involves the movement of phosphorus
throughout the biosphere and lithosphere
Important because phosphorus is an essential
element for life and often is a limiting nutrient
for plant growth.

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

Botkin & Keller

Environmental Science 5e

2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers