Biogeochemical cycles
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Carbon reservoir: atmosphere
CO2, CH4, CO smallest store
Carbon reservoir: hydrosphere
CO2 dissolves in water
Carbon reservoir: lithosphere
carbonate rocks hydrocarbons largest store
Carbon reservoir: biosphere
DOM carbohydrates proteins lipids
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: photosynthesis
atmosphere to biosphere CO2 to glucose
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: respiration
biosphere to atmosphere glucose to CO2 produces energy from glucose by producing ATP
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: food chain transfer
biological molecules are transferred from one organism to another energy decreases up each trophic level
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: fossilisation
biosphere to lithosphere carbohydrates to hydrocarbons layers of sediment build up around the DOM, it begins to compact and form rocks
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: combustion
biosphere/lithosphere to atmosphere carbohydrates to CO2 and CO fossil fuels are burned to release CO2 and CO
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: decomposition
biosphere to lithosphere/atmosphere carbohydrates to hydrocarbons/CH4
How carbon moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: volcanic activity
lithosphere to atmosphere hydrocarbon to CO2 carbonated rocks are melted to magma, when magma reaches the surface CO2 is released
How human activities impact the carbon cycle: deforestation
decreases photosynthesis, decomposition and food chain transfer reduced amount of CO2 absorbed from atmosphere land is used for agriculture and cattle ranching
How human activities impact the carbon cycle: combustion of fossil fuels
increases CO2 in atmosphere contributes to greenhouse effect global temperature rise anthropogenic climate change
How human activities impact the carbon cycle: afforestation
increases photosynthesis, decomposition and food chain transfer CO2 is absorbed from atmosphere
How human activities impact the carbon cycle: intensive farming
increases CO2 in atmosphere and biosphere and combustion contributes to greenhouse effect increased combustion for machinery ploughing of soil releases CO2
How human activities impact the carbon cycle: cattle farming
increases CH4 in atmosphere and CO2 in biosphere decreases photosynthesis contributes to greenhouse effect anaerobic conditions release CH4
How human activities impact the carbon cycle: ocean pollution
increased CO2 in atmosphere and hydrosphere decreased photosynthesis reduces number of phytoplankton and algae ocean acidification less CO2 removed from atmosphere and oceans
Nitrogen reservoir: atmosphere
N2 = 78% NOXs
Nitrogen reservoir: biosphere
DNA, proteins, amino acids, RNA
Nitrogen reservoir: lithosphere
soil = ammonia, nitrates, nitrites
Nitrogen reservoir: hydrosphere
dissolved nitrates dissolved ammonia
How nitrogen moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: ionisation
lightning provides energy for atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen to react produces oxides of nitrogen
How nitrogen moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: fixation
micro-organisms chemically reduce N2 to NH3
How nitrogen moves from one reservoir to another and in what form: food chain transfer
nitrogen passes between organisms as amino acids and proteins in food