geochemical cycles
DESCRIPTION
Geochemical Cycles. Water Cycle. Evaporation = water changing from liquid form to gas. Movement of water among ocean, atmosphere, and land. Enters atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration (plant leaves). Transpiration = plant leaves losing water to the atmosphere. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Geochemical CyclesGeochemical Cycles
Water CycleWater Cycle Movement of Movement of
water among water among ocean, ocean, atmosphere, and atmosphere, and land.land.
Enters Enters atmosphere atmosphere through through evaporation and evaporation and transpiration transpiration (plant leaves)(plant leaves)
Hurricane Katrina approaches
Evaporation = water changing from
liquid form to gas
Transpiration = plant leaves losing
water to the atmosphere
Geochemical CyclesGeochemical CyclesWater CycleWater Cycle
When air is warmed up, the particles get When air is warmed up, the particles get farther apart (and so have lower density).farther apart (and so have lower density).
HH220 rises in columns of warm air and may 0 rises in columns of warm air and may remain in atmosphere for about 2 weeks.remain in atmosphere for about 2 weeks.
As the HAs the H220 vapor rises, it cools into droplets 0 vapor rises, it cools into droplets (condenses), forming clouds(condenses), forming clouds
Condensation = water vapor transforming into liquid water. Occurs because cooler air does not
have as much space to hold water vapor.
Water CycleWater Cycle
Enters land through Enters land through precipitation and precipitation and condensation.condensation.
Enters lakes or Enters lakes or rivers through runoffrivers through runoff
Enters groundwater Enters groundwater where it enters the where it enters the biosphere.biosphere.
When water vapor in the air cools (usually at night),
it condenses on grass (dew) or in the air (fog).
Runoff = any water moving across the
land
Groundwater = any water stored
underground!
WATER CYCLE
OCEANS
LAKES
Mountains
Streams
SUN
Run Off
Aquifer Groundwater
Movement of water vapor by
wind
Precipitation
Evaporation
Precip and Conden
Evaporation & Transpiration
Humans affect the water cycleHumans affect the water cycle Higher global temperature increased Higher global temperature increased
evaporation.evaporation. Higher ocean temps increase Higher ocean temps increase
evaporationevaporation Reduction in rainforest reduces Reduction in rainforest reduces
transpiration.transpiration. Reduction of plant life increases runoffReduction of plant life increases runoff Glacial melting reduces amount of Glacial melting reduces amount of
reflected lightreflected light
Geochemical CyclesGeochemical CyclesCarbon CycleCarbon Cycle
Early atmosphere of Earth 95% COEarly atmosphere of Earth 95% CO22. . Photosynthetic plants removed some of the COPhotosynthetic plants removed some of the CO22 and added Oand added O22. Today’s atmosphere is 0.04% . Today’s atmosphere is 0.04% COCO22!!
Reactions of photosynthesis and cellular Reactions of photosynthesis and cellular respiration couldn’t take place without carbon. respiration couldn’t take place without carbon. These two reactions form a continuous cycle.These two reactions form a continuous cycle.
Two important sources of Carbon are the ocean Two important sources of Carbon are the ocean (since CO(since CO22 dissolves easily in H dissolves easily in H220) and rocks 0) and rocks (such as coal, ore and limestone formed from (such as coal, ore and limestone formed from dead organisms)dead organisms)
Carbon is found in the atmosphere primarily as CO2
Photosynthesis: Plants taking CO2 out of
the atmosphere and using it to produce
sugar.
Cellular Respiration: Organisms take that sugar and in
the process of burning energy release CO2 back into the
atmosphere.
And, another way to look at the carbon cycle:
Humans affect the Carbon CycleHumans affect the Carbon Cycle Burning of fossil fuels, (Burning of fossil fuels, (oil, coal and oil, coal and
natural gas).natural gas). Fossil fuels were formed very long Fossil fuels were formed very long
ago and is “fixed”: essentially ago and is “fixed”: essentially locked out of the carbon cycle. locked out of the carbon cycle.
By burning fossil fuels the carbon is By burning fossil fuels the carbon is released back into the cycle. released back into the cycle.
We presently release more carbon into the We presently release more carbon into the air than can be reabsorbed by air than can be reabsorbed by photosynthetic organisms, thereby we have photosynthetic organisms, thereby we have a net INCREASE of carbon in the cycle. a net INCREASE of carbon in the cycle.
This atmospheric carbon has a role to play This atmospheric carbon has a role to play in the warming of the atmosphere.in the warming of the atmosphere.
Humans affect the Carbon CycleHumans affect the Carbon Cycle
Geochemical CyclesGeochemical CyclesNitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle
Organisms require Nitrogen to form amino Organisms require Nitrogen to form amino acids for the building of proteins.acids for the building of proteins.
Lots of NLots of N22 in our atmosphere in our atmosphere Unfortunately, most organisms CANNOT use Unfortunately, most organisms CANNOT use
atmospheric nitrogen.atmospheric nitrogen. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria CAN use NNitrogen-fixing bacteria CAN use N22 from the from the
atmosphere. atmosphere. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric N2 into ammonia
(NH4) which is a form of nitrogen that plants CAN use.
Nitrogen Cycle Continued …Nitrogen Cycle Continued … Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in the soil and in roots Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in the soil and in roots
of legumes. of legumes. These bacteria also form nitrites (NOThese bacteria also form nitrites (NO22) and nitrates ) and nitrates
(NO(NO33); which are compounds containing N and O.); which are compounds containing N and O. Nitrate is the most common source of N for plants.Nitrate is the most common source of N for plants. Animals get N from the proteins they eat. Animals get N from the proteins they eat. Decomposers return N to the soil in the form of Decomposers return N to the soil in the form of
ammonia and the cycle repeats.ammonia and the cycle repeats. So, oftentimes, the nitrogen cycle does not require So, oftentimes, the nitrogen cycle does not require
the N to be returned to atmospheric form!the N to be returned to atmospheric form!
Nitrogen Cycle SummaryNitrogen Cycle Summary
All living organisms require nitrogen – to form All living organisms require nitrogen – to form amino acids to build proteins. amino acids to build proteins.
Proteins are important for locomotion, Proteins are important for locomotion, reproduction, defense, and structure.reproduction, defense, and structure.
Nitrogen makes up 78% of atmosphere as NNitrogen makes up 78% of atmosphere as N2 2
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are very important - Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are very important - NN22 needs to be “fixed” before it can be used needs to be “fixed” before it can be used by most living things.by most living things.
NITROGEN CYCLEN2
Crops
Fertilizer Production
Lightning
Legume
Nitrogen-Fixing
Bacteria in soil & roots
NitrogenFixation
Ammonia
NitratesNitrites
Decomposers
Denitrification
Sheep
(GAS)
From the production and use of nitrogen From the production and use of nitrogen fertilizers to the burning of fossil fuels in fertilizers to the burning of fossil fuels in automobiles, power plants, and industries, automobiles, power plants, and industries, humans impact this cycle.humans impact this cycle.
Nitrogen is essential to living organisms and Nitrogen is essential to living organisms and its availability plays a crucial role in the its availability plays a crucial role in the world's ecosystems.world's ecosystems.
Excessive nitrogen additions can pollute Excessive nitrogen additions can pollute ecosystemsecosystems
Humans affect the Nitrogen CycleHumans affect the Nitrogen Cycle
Increased global concentrations of nitrous Increased global concentrations of nitrous oxide (Noxide (N22O), a potent greenhouse gas, in O), a potent greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere the atmosphere
Increased concentrations of nitric oxide, Increased concentrations of nitric oxide, (NO) that drive the formation of smog along (NO) that drive the formation of smog along with Nwith N22OO
Losses of soil nutrients such as calcium and Losses of soil nutrients such as calcium and potassium that are essential for long-term potassium that are essential for long-term soil fertilitysoil fertility
Humans affect the Nitrogen CycleHumans affect the Nitrogen Cycle
Acidification of soils and of the waters Acidification of soils and of the waters of streams and lakesof streams and lakes
Greatly increased transport of nitrogen Greatly increased transport of nitrogen by rivers into estuaries and coastal by rivers into estuaries and coastal waters where it is a major pollutant.waters where it is a major pollutant.
Humans affect the Nitrogen CycleHumans affect the Nitrogen Cycle