Download Biogeochemical Cycles What are Biogeochemical cycles?

10/20/13 — Is Earth an Open or Closed
System?
Biogeochemical Cycles
What are Biogeochemical
cycles?
—  Biogeochemical cycles are the movement
(or cycling) of matter between the abiotic
and biotic components of the environment.
—  Bio = ?
— Earth is a Closed System
(Spaceship Earth)
— All Matter cycles…it is neither
created nor destroyed
What Makes Up the Earth System?
—  The 4 “spheres”: layers that work together to support
life
— 
— 
— 
— 
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
—  Geo = ?
—  Chemical = ?
Atmosphere (air)
—  Layer of gases
around our
planet
—  78% Nitrogen,
21% oxygen,
1 % carbon
dioxide, water
vapor, other
gases
—  The Four Spheres of Earth
http://video.about.com/geography/The-Four-Spheresof-Earth.htm
Hydrosphere (water)
—  All water in
and around
the planet
—  97% is in
oceans
—  3% freshwater
—  ¾ of all
freshwater is
solid (in the
ice sheets)
1 10/20/13 Lithosphere (stone)
—  Solid, rocky crust
covering entire
planet
Biosphere (life)
—  Composed of all
living organisms
—  Plants, Animals,
one-celled
organisms
—  Inorganic and
composed of
minerals
Energy
Cycles…essential to life on Earth
—  Usable energy flows in one direction in the biosphere
— Water
—  All of our usable energy comes from the sun
— Carbon
—  Plants use photosynthesis to trap the sun’s energy as
food for the planet.
— Nitrogen
—  Trapped energy is what is available for other species
—  Each time energy moves from one organism to another,
usable energy is lost as heat.
— Phosphorus
Cycles…essential to life on Earth
—  Carbon, Nitrogen, Water cycles have
atmospheric components and cycle on a global
scale
—  In groups, become an expert on one of the cycles
and teach your classmates about the importance of
the cycle.
—  Phosphorous has no atmospheric component
and cycles on a local scale
—  Create an 8 ½” x 11 “ diagram that will be
distributed to your classmates.
—  Make sure to include the importance that humans
have had on your cycle.
—  Make sure to include and define the key terms in
your diagrams.
2