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Bio-Geo-Chemical Cycles: Dr. M. Subramanian

This document discusses biogeochemical cycles. It begins by defining biogeochemical cycles as pathways by which chemical elements move through Earth's biotic and abiotic systems. Key cycles mentioned include carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and water. Energy also flows through ecosystems in the form of solar energy and is lost as heat. As humans impact climate change, some biogeochemical cycles are changing speed and balance. Diagrams are provided to illustrate the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles.

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Nkugwa Mark William
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59 views13 pages

Bio-Geo-Chemical Cycles: Dr. M. Subramanian

This document discusses biogeochemical cycles. It begins by defining biogeochemical cycles as pathways by which chemical elements move through Earth's biotic and abiotic systems. Key cycles mentioned include carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and water. Energy also flows through ecosystems in the form of solar energy and is lost as heat. As humans impact climate change, some biogeochemical cycles are changing speed and balance. Diagrams are provided to illustrate the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles.

Uploaded by

Nkugwa Mark William
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CH2356 Energy Engineering

www.msubbu.in

Bio-geo-chemical
ww
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Cycles
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Dr. M. Subramanian

Associate Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering
Kalavakkam – 603 110, Kanchipuram (Dist)
Tamil Nadu, India
msubbu.in[AT]gmail.com
10-Jan-2011
Introduction

• A biogeochemical cycle or nutrient cycle is a pathway


by which a chemical element or molecule moves through
both biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere,
atmosphere, and hydrosphere) compartments of Earth.

• In effect, the element iswrecycled, although in some cycles


ww reservoirs) where the element
there may be places (called
is accumulated or held for .amslong
ub period of time (such as an
ocean or lake for water). bu
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• Elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter
are passed from one organism to another and from one
part of the biosphere to another through the
biogeochemical cycles

10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Energy Flow and Materials Cycling

ww
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The movement of nutrients (blue arrows) and energy (red


arrows) and both (brown arrows) through the ecosystem.
10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Energy Flow in Ecosystem

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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Energy Flow in Ecosystem

• Almost all life requires the energy that flows daily from the
sun.

• The basic conversion of wthis solar energy to usable form


takes place through plantwwmaterial
.m on land and in water.
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• As the energy passes from plants .in to whatever eats them,
and in turn eats the eaters of the plants, some is lost as
heat, and eventually it all is.

• Thus, energy doesn't cycle; it flows through the ecosystem


until it's used up.

10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Important Cycles

• The most well-known and important biogeochemical cycles


include the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the oxygen
cycle, the phosphorus cycle, the sulfur cycle, and the water
cycle.
ww
• There are many biogeochemical cycles that are currently
w.m
being studied for the first timesub as climate change and
human impacts are drastically bchanging
u.in the speed,
intensity, and balance of these relatively unknown cycles.
(eg. Mercury cycle)

10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Removal of vegetation
CO2 (trees) prevents CO2
Cellular respiration
photosynthesis from being removed
Burning releases
FOOD WEB from the atmosphere
of fossil fuels
SUBCYCLE
increases CO2
levels dead organisms buried
Carbon
by sediment become
Cycle
ww
FOSSIL FUELS
further decomposition w.m
sub shells and skeletons of marine
produces bu organisms deposited and
.in
Ion in water enters compressed to become

Decompose (weather) CARBONATE ROCKS


into bicarbonate ion (HCO3-
)
Where human activities change the cycling rate of carbon
among reservoirs.

10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Carbon Cycle

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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Nitrogen Cycle

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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
Phosphorus Cycle

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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian
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10-Jan-2011 M Subramanian

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