1. Cycles are the driving forces of the movement of nutrients and materials through all of the spheres of the world
Cycles that you need to know
Water Cycle
Rock Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Spheres you need to know
Atmosphere Thin layer of gases surrounding the Earth
Biosphere Living part of the Earth
Lithosphere  Solid inorganic layers of the Earth
Hydrosphere Layer of water that is in and on the Earth

2. Water Cycle

3. Important parts of Water Cycle
Infiltration, precipitation, and evaporation will clean many pollutants out of freshwater
Evaporation occurs mostly over the ocean
Runoff is the chief transporter of water soluble pollutants

4. Human Impact on these Cycles
Water Cycle
High amounts of freshwater is drawn from the underground reserves
Why?
Discharge (intentionally or unintentionally) of chemicals and pollutants into water sources
Impact on Nature?

5. Rock Cycle

6. Important parts of Rock Cycle
Crustal materials are the ones that are being recycled, none from the mantle or core
Each part of the rock cycle takes millions of years to complete
Any rock can be turned into any rock at any time, just slowly

7. Human Impact on the Rock Cycle
Rates of erosion have increased
Why?
Mining has striped many of the resources that are nonrenewable
Quarrying of rocks and minerals to fight the ever growing need for resources

8. Carbon Cycle

9. Important Parts of Carbon Cycle
Oceans are large sinks for atmospheric carbon to be dissolved in, but too much carbon can make the ocean acidic, not good conditions for the life in them
Increased amounts of carbon formed from the activities of humans
Deforestation is causing the loss of processes that would normally help to clear more of the carbon out of the atmosphere
Most carbon is stored underground in the petroleum and oil reserves, but human activities are bringing them to the surface quicker than they should

10. Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide means that there is more heat retained and held near the Earth’s surface
High absorptions of carbon dioxide into the ocean leads the production of carbonic acid in the ocean

11. Carbon Effects on the Land
Plants are able to take in more carbon. This means for humans:
Longer growing and more lush seasons and production of crops.
2. With the increased amounts of atmospheric carbon, temperatures rise and extend the growing seasons as well.
3. This means for humans that

12. Phosphorus Cycle

13. Important Parts of Phosphorus Cycle
There is no form of atmospheric phosphorus
Animals get the phosphorus they need by eating either plants or animals that have eaten the plants that absorb the phosphorus
Weathering and erosion are key elements because they break it down into usable size for absorption

14. Human Impact on the Phosphorus Cycle
Humans primarily use phosphorus for fertilizers, so overuse will cause a disruption in the aquatic ecosystems
This leads to eutrophication
These are large algal blooms that can occur in salt and freshwater, when there is a rapid reproduction and competition for nutrients with other species.
Large amounts of toxins are released when the algae becomes stressed, block out sunlight for those species living beneath, and depleting the oxygen of those areas

15. Human Impact on the Phosphorus Cycle (continued)
Deforestation of wooded areas, where many phosphates are released back into the soil, causes the phosphates to be exposed to precipitation and the phosphorus is washed away

16. Nitrogen Cycle

17. Important Parts of the Nitrogen Cycle
Most of the nitrogen cycle happens in the ground and between the plants and the bacteria that cause the nitrification
Precipitation draws some of the nitrogen out of the air
Animals get their nitrogen from plants, they do not absorb it like plants do

18. Human Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle
Dumping of untreated sewage and urban runoff
Leads to eutrophication again
Burning of fossil fuels and wood add to the nitrogen in the air
Why is this bad?
The use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soils becoming acidified and the soil is inhospitable

19. Human Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle (continued)
Over harvesting of nitrogen rich legumes (plants that contain nitrogen fixing bacteria in a symbiotic relationship) and nitrogen deposits in soils deplete those sources needed to keep the nitrogen cycle moving