1. The Biogeochemical Cycles
Chapter 5
The Biogeochemical Cycles
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

2. Environmental Science 5e
How Chemicals Cycle
Biogeochemical Cycle
The complete path a chemical takes through the four major components – or reservoirs – of Earth’s systems
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

3. Environmental Science 5e
Resevoir and Sink
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e
© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers *

4. Tectonic Cycle/Geologic Cycle
Involves creation and destruction of the solid outer layer of Earth, the lithosphere
Plate tectonics:
The slow movement of these large segments of Earth’s outermost rock shell
Boundaries between plates are geologically active areas
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

5. Environmental Science 5e
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e
© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers *

6. Plate Tectonic Vocabulary
Subduction Zones- At the location of convergent plates one plate slips underneath the other
Trench- The impression that is made by the subduction zone- Ex. Marianas Trench
Ridge- the upwelling of magma forming mountains at the location of divergent plates- Ex. Mid Atlantic Ridge
Fault- The location of two plates sliding past each other- San Adreas Fault
Rift-Locations that have thin crust due to underneith tectonic activity- Young Faults
Divergent Plate Boundaries
Convergent Plate Boundaries

7. Complex Pic

8. Ring of Fire

9. Tectonic Cycle: Plate Boundaries
Divergent plate boundary:
Occurs at a spreading ocean ridge, where plates are moving away from one another
New lithosphere is produced (seafloor spreading)
Convergent plate boundary
Occurs when plates collide
Subduction Zones- Oceanic Plates go under Continental Plates causing volcanoes
Transform fault boundary
Occurs where one plate slides past another
San Andreas Fault in California
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

10. Richter Scale

11. Environmental Science 5e
The Hydrologic Cycle
The Hydrologic Cycle:
Evaporation of water from the oceans
Precipitation on land
Evaporation from land
Runoff from streams, rivers, and sub- surface groundwater
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

12. Environmental Science 5e
The Rock Cycle
The rock cycle:
Numerous processes that produce rocks and soils
Rock is classified as
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

13. Environmental Science 5e
The Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle:
Carbon combines with and is chemically and biologically linked with the cycles of oxygen and hydrogen that form the major compounds of life
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

14. Environmental Science 5e
Idealized diagram illustrating photosynthesis for a green plan (tree) and generalized reaction.
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e
© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers *

15. Environmental Science 5e
Idealized diagram showing the carbon cycle in a lake.
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e
© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers *

16. Environmental Science 5e
The Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle:
Extremely important
Done by Nitrogen Fixing bacteria
Nitrogen fixation:
The process of converting inorganic, molecular nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia or nitrate
Denitrification:
The process of releasing fixed nitrogen back to atmospheric nitrogen
Lightning fixes nitrogen directly
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

17. Environmental Science 5e
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e
© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers *

18. Environmental Science 5e
The Phosphorus Cycle
Vital Nutrient
Usually a limiting factor
In fertilizer
In guano/bird poop
Does not enter gas phase
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5e *

19. CHNOPS The Big Six Macronutrients Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
Limiting Factors
Other Macronutrients
Calcium
Iron
Potassium
Eutrophication

20. Drawing the Biogeochemical cycles
New Tank Syndrome Activity
Molnar Tectonic plates
Earthquake Finding Activity
Seismic Activity
Bottle Hydrologic Activity
2014 FRQ #4 on Biogeochemical
2014 FRW #3 on Tectonic plates