Cycles

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Cycles
by Adam Zhou \| 02-01-2019 11:37 0
In order to better understand the environmental crises going on around us, it is especially important to know the root logistics that occur in the earth. Whether it be issues related to climate change, eutrophication, or deforestation, knowing the following four processes will better the understanding on how natural systems put into place should ideally function. On a tangent, it will allow us to see the extent of how much human activity in urbanization and otherwise impacts these cycles. Nutrient Cycle: There are three main parts to this cycle, those being dead organic matter, biomass, and soil. The biomass is due to the uptake by plants from the soil, and the soil comes from the dead organic matter once it decomposes. Likewise, the dead organic matter comes from the biomass once it dies. However, there are external factors that can lead to this too. For instance, dead organic matter can come from material dissolved in rain. In addition, dead organic matter can leave as runoff, while soil also experiences loss through leaching. However, weathered rock contributes to the said soil. It should also be noted that the size of the three main parts of the cycle varies depending on the biome that is present. Water Cycle: This should be familiar to many. Precipitation leads to runoff but can also lead to infiltration/percolation. Once under the layer of soil or rock, there is throughflow or groundwater flow, the latter which leads to ocean. This area of storage will eventually evaporate and have a phase shift to a gas. Later on, however, it will condense and turn back into precipitation. Carbon Cycle: Atmospheric carbon dioxide, naturally, would only come from plants and animals that respire, and would likewise provide the former with photosynthesis needed. Once animals die however, they will be part of the fossils and the source for fossil fuels. When factories use this for emissions, it creates a synthetic part to to this cycle by adding in extra atmospheric carbon dioxide. This is what makes an initially carbon neutral cycle to one with more atmospheric carbon dioxide than can be handled. Nitrogen Cycle: Though plants and animals need to consume nitrogenous nutrients, it cannot come directly from the atmospheric nitrogen that is present. Rather, it needs to obtain nitrates in the system. Therefore, by means of nitrogen fixation through special types of bacteria, it can convert this to ammonia, which later on, by the process of nitrification by other types of bacteria, will turn into nitrites, and finally nitrates. Natural occurrences such as lightning and volcanic activity can also lend its way directly into nitrites then nitrates. Animals and plants can assimilate these nitrates for nutrients, but when they die, they also turn into ammonia in the soil. Likewise, a different set of bacteria can also turn the nitrates directly into the atmospheric nitrogen through denitrification. It is especially important to know about this due to the plenty of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture. Excess nitrogen will cause dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.

Dormant user Adam Zhou

4 Comments

Rosa Domingos says :
Hey Zhou!

What I like about the Cycles that we have on Earth is that they are cycles that are spontaneous and also that are within a closed system, meaning the whole Earth is a closed system.

All the Cycles that you've mentioned in your report are very much important in maintaining the function and the balance of our ecosystems. And it is very important to understand how urbanisation and arthropogenic activities can alter these Cycles in a negative light.

Thank you for this report update Adam!
Stay Joyous and live green!
Okumuma. R
Posted 07-01-2019 01:07

Kushal Naharki

Kushal Naharki says :
When I read the topic i thought that you will be discussing about the bicycles but found that it was related to cycles of ecosystem.

These cycles are usually taught to the school children in their Science subject and thank you Adam for posting it here. It will be great learning for the children and youth visiting the website.

Our ecosystem is the combination of many such cycles and the disturbance in any of the cycle can cause disturbance to the whole ecosystem.

People generally know about water cycle only but our environment is made of several other cycles which interact with each other.

Keep writing great reports Adam :) :) :)
Posted 05-01-2019 21:11

Deepak Subedi says :
Hello Adam,
I wish for your healthy life in this new year

I always used to love to read this cycle in science book in school days, thank you for recalling this cycle. These cycle are very important in maintaining ecosystem and livelihood of all animals and humans beings in this earth
Thank you for the report
Keep writing :)
Posted 02-01-2019 12:13