Biogeochemical Cycle 2011

7/31/2019 Biogeochemical Cycle 2011

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BIOGEOCHEMICALCYCLE

Engr. Lina D. dela Cruz

Chemical Engineering DepartmentTechnological Institute of the Philippines


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Biogeochemical cycle

The major part of the biosphere are connectedby the flow of chemical elements andcompounds.

In many of these cycles, biota plays animportant role. Matter from earths interior isreleased by volcanoes.

The atmosphere exchanges some compoundsand elements rapidly with the biota and the

oceans.Exchange of material between rocks, soils and

oceans are slower by comparison.


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Biogeochemical cycle is the movement (orcycling) of matter through a system.

As earth is essentially a closed system with

respect to matter, all matters on earth cycles.Matter can be elements (carbon, nitrogen,

oxygen), or molecules (water); so themovement of matter, for example carbon

between the parts of the system is abiogeochemical cycle.


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Carbon Cycle

Carbon cycle is one of the most important tohumans and important to our existence dueto the following:

-one of the primary elements forming humantissues

-necessary to plants, the basis of human food

And because it is important to the climatesystem, which sets the background of our

environment; carbon dioxide and methaneare greenhouse gasses, which help globaltemperature


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Gaseous CycleCarbon Cycle


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Carbon cycle

Carbon in the Atmosphere

Carbon is taken from the atmosphere intwo ways:

-when the sun is shining, plants performphotosynthesis to convert carbondioxide into carbohydrates, releasingoxygen in the process.

-At surface of oceans near poles, wherewater becomes cooler and able todissolve more carbon dioxide.


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Carbon cycle

Carbon can be released back to the atmospherein many different ways:

-through the respiration performed by plantsand animals

-through decay of animals and plant matter

-through combustion of organic materials

-through reactions of limestone

-at the surface of the ocean where waterbecomes warmer, dissolved carbon dioxide isreleased back to atmosphere

-volcanic eruption release gas in atmosphere


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Carbon Cycle

Carbon in the Biosphere

Autotrophs are organisms that producetheir own organic compounds using

carbon dioxide from air or water inwhich they live.

They require external source of energy

and they use solar radiation to producethis.

Their production is called photosynthesis


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Carbon in the biosphere

-burning of biomass ( forest firewood usefor heating) can transfer substantialamount of carbon to the atmosphere

-carbon also leave the biosphere whendead organic matter becomes

incorporated in the geosphere


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Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cyclethat describes the transformation of nitrogenand nitrogen containing compounds in nature.

The basic earths atmosphere is about 78%nitrogen, making it the largest pool ofnitrogen.

Nitrogen is essential for many biologicalprocesses, it is in all amino acids,

incorporated in proteins that make up nucleicacid such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) andRNA (ribonucleic acid).


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Nitrogen Cycle


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Processes of the Nitrogen Cycle

A. Nitrogen Fixation three ways to convertatmospheric nitrogen gas into more reactiveform:

1. Biological fixation symbiotic bacteria most

often associated with leguminous plants andsome free living bacteria are able to fixnitrogen and assimilate it as organicnitrogen

2. Industrial fixation- in the HABER BOSCH

process, nitrogen is converted together withhydrogen gas into ammonia fertilizer3. Combustion of fossil fuels automobile

engines and thermal power plants


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B. Assimilation- in plants which have amutualistic relationship with RHIZOBIUM.

Some nitrogen is assimilated in the form of

ammonium ions from the nodules;All plants can absorb nitrate from the soil via

root hairs;

These are then reduced to nitrate ions for

incorporation into amino acids and proteinwhich forms part of the plants or animalsthat they eat.


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C. Ammonification nitrates are the form ofnitrogen most commonly assimilated by plantspecies, which in turn are consumed byheterotrophs for use in compounds such asamino and nucleic acid.

The remains of the heterotrophs will then bedecomposed into nutrient rich organic

material and bacteria or in some cases fungiwill convert the nitrates within the remainback to ammonia.


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D. Nitrification the conversion of ammonia tonitrates is performed primarily by soil livingbacteria.

The primary stage of nitrification, the oxidationof ammonia is performed by bacteria such asNITROSOMONAS species which convertsammonia to nitrites.

Other bacteria such as the NITROBACTER areresponsible for the oxidation of the nitritesinto nitrates.


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E. Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation in thisbiological process, nitrite and ammoniumare converted directly into di nitrogen gas.This process makes up a major proportion ofdi nitrogen conversion in the oceans.

F. Denitrification is the reduction of nitrateback into the largely inert nitrogen gas

completing the nitrogen cycle. The processis performed by the bacteria species such asPSEUDOMONAS


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HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

It is the movement of water in the earthsatmosphere, on the surface and below thesurface a process powered by suns energy.

In this cycle, the suns radiant energy supplies

the power to evaporate water from lakes,rivers and plants.

Since the sun also supplies the energy to movethe winds, it is responsible for the transport

of moisture in the atmosphere.Much water vapor is returned to the ocean by

precipitation before reaching land.


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Hydrologic Cycle

Sun supplies power to evaporate waterfrom lakes, oceans, rivers

Wind transport moisture to atmosphere

Water vapor is returned to ocean andland by precipitation


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Hydrologic Cycle

Winds moves part of the water vapor to landwhere it is deposited as precipitation. Of thewater that falls overland, a portion infiltratesto the ground.

Part intercepted by vegetation and directlyreturned to the atmosphere throughtranspiration.

Part of the precipitation flows overland tolakes and rivers. When fresh water isreturned to sea, cycle is completed


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Hydrologic Cycle

Evaporation conversion of liquid waterto water vapor. It occurs in the surfaceof water bodies such as lakes and rivers

and immediately after precipitationevents in small depression and otherstorage areas.

Transpiration then loss of water from

plants through leaves and other parts.This loss can be a significant amount ofwater during very dry periods.


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Hydrologic cycle

Precipitation falling to earth of condensedwater vapor in the form of rain, snow,sleet or hail.

Run-off water that flows overland to lakes

or streams during and shortly afterprecipitation events

Infiltration the movement of water fromthe surface of the land and through the

unsaturated zone and into the groundwater.This occurs during and immediatelyafter precipitation events. It can alsooccur at the bottom of lakes and rivers.

Documents

Biogeochemical Cycle 2011