WATER CYCLE

WATER CYCLE DEFINITION

The water cycle is the process of water moving around between the air and
land. Or in more scientific terms: the water cycle is the process of water
evaporating and condensing on planet Earth in a continuous process. This
process has been happening continuously for millions of years and without
it, there would be no life on Earth!
Water Cycle Step #1: Water
evaporates from the Earth’s surface.
If you spill a glass of water outside you will notice that a few hours later the
water is gone! That is because water slowly turns from a liquid into a gas
called water vapor. The process of water turning from a liquid into a gas is
called evaporation.
Evaporation happens faster on a hot day. That is because the evaporation of water
outside is powered by the sun! The hotter it is outside, the faster water will
evaporate. Since water in its gas form has no color, we cannot see it. It just goes
into the air.

Water Cycle Step #2: Water

condenses to form clouds.
Water vapor rises up in the sky due to the sun’s heat. Once the water vapor rises
high enough it condenses into water droplets. Condensation is the process of
water turning from a gas into a liquid.
You have probably experienced condensation if you have had a cold glass of
water at a restaurant. As the cold glass sits on the table, water vapor from the air
condenses into water droplets on the glass. The same thing happens as water
vapor rises into the sky – it turns into liquid water.
It’s important to remember that not ALL water condenses to form clouds. Some
of it condenses close to the ground to form dew and some of it rises up only a
little bit to form fog, but most of it rises high in the sky to form clouds.

Water Cycle Step #3: Water falls

back to the Earth as precipitation.
When water droplets get heavy enough, they fall back down to Earth as rain! We
call this precipitation because it can happen in a few different ways: rain (liquid
water), snow (frozen water), and hail (big pieces of frozen water). Precipitation
brings the water back down to earth and the cycle repeats … the sun shines on
the water and it starts evaporating again. This is why we call it the water cycle.
 Oxygen Cycle
What is the Oxygen Cycle

It is the process of biogeochemical transitions of oxygen atoms in its different forms in nature
between the three main reservoirs of our ecosystem.

The Three Steps of the Oxygen Cycle

1) Production of Free Oxygen

Occurs through the following processes:

 Photolysis – Ultraviolet radiation of the sun breaks down atmospheric water and nitrous oxide
 Photosynthesis – Plants make food and release oxygen as a byproduct
 Weathering – Oxygen-containing minerals in rocks gradually breaks down  
2) Utilizing the Free Oxygen

Involves the following processes:    

 Respiration – Animals take in oxygen from the atmosphere and use it to break down carbohydrates
 Decomposition – Invertebrates, including fungi, bacteria, and some insects decay the dead organic
matter of plants and animals remains
 Combustion – Organic materials, including fossil fuels, plastics, and wood, are burned in the presence
of oxygen
 Corrosion – Metals like iron or alloy rust when they are exposed to moisture and oxygen for an
extended period, new compounds of oxides are formed by the combination of oxygen with the
metal
3) Utilizing Carbon Dioxide and Releasing Oxygen Back

Carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere is again utilized by green plants with the help of:

 Photosynthesis –
Plants utilize the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere for preparing food, thus
completing the cycle

Importance of the Oxygen Cycle in Nature

 Maintaining the oxygen level in the atmosphere which helps to carry out important physiological
processes such as respiration and photosynthesis
 Helping in the proper functioning of the carbon cycle since the oxygen and carbon cycle are
interconnected
 Facilitating other biogeochemical cycles such as nitrogen and sulfur cycles to continue since
oxygen binds and forms stable compounds with other molecules
 Sustaining the aquatic ecosystem present beneath the surface
 Forming the outer layer of earth’s crust, the lithosphere

How Do Humans Affect the Oxygen Cycle

Human activities release excess carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and some other harmful gases
into the atmosphere, thus decreasing the concentration of oxygen in the following ways:   

 Indiscriminate cutting of trees or deforestation 

 Much higher human birth rate compared to death rate
 Effluents from vehicles, industries, and burning of fossil fuels
Carbon Cycle
What is the Carbon Cycle?
The circulation of carbon on earth in which atmospheric carbon
dioxide is converted to organic nutrients through photosynthesis and
is again converted back to the inorganic state by respiration, decay,
or combustion. The atmosphere, the oceans, vegetation, rocks, and
soil forms the major carbon reserve of our planet.

Who discovered the Carbon Cycle?

Antoine Lavoisier and Joseph Priestley discovered the carbon cycle
in the 18th century, which was later popularized by Humphry Davy.

What are the Major Steps of the Carbon Cycle?

1. Role of Primary Producers (Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration)
Carbon present in the air as carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants, the
primary producers to produce food in the form of carbohydrates by a
process called photosynthesis. This forms the foundation of the
carbon cycle.
Respiration by plants returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, thus
once again contributing to the cycle in a different manner.
2. Role of Primary Consumers (Carbon Fixation and Cellular Respiration)
The primary consumers such as cows and horses use plants as their
food, and carbon gets accumulated and fixed into their bodies in the
form of organic carbon, a process known as carbon fixation.
Respiration by animals release carbon dioxide back to the
atmosphere.
3. Role of Detritus Feeders (Decomposition)
Once plants and animals die, the fixed organic carbon is released
back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas through
decomposition by the detritus feeders.
4. Role of Fossils and Fossil Fuels (Combustion)
 The carbon that is leftover in the body of the dead organisms after
decay becomes fossil fuels over many years, which on combustion
releases the carbon stored in them back to the atmosphere thus
completing the cycle.

Why is the Carbon Cycle Important?

Primary Function of the Carbon Cycle:  To maintain the balance of
carbon in nature. Since atmospheric carbon dioxide determines the
rate of photosynthesis by the producers, which acts as the primary
source of food production on earth, the carbon cycle helps to sustain
life on earth.
Other Roles in Living Systems and the Environment:
 Carbon forms an integral component of proteins, lipids, and DNA,
the building blocks of all living things
 Carbon dioxide traps the long-wavelength radiations from the sun
and prevents it from escaping into space, very much like the glass walls of a
greenhouse, thus acting as a blanket over the planet and controlling the
temperature of the earth

How do Humans Affect the Carbon Cycle?

Human activities can interfere with the carbon cycle in two possible
ways –
 Combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gases
 Indiscriminate cutting of trees or deforestation

What are the Effects of Combustion of Fossil Fuels on the Carbon

Cycle?
Burning of fossil fuels releases excess carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, which is way more than the amount removed by plants
during photosynthesis. This results in an increase in atmospheric
carbon dioxide, thus disturbing the balance of the carbon cycle.
How Does Deforestation Affect the Carbon Cycle?
As trees and forests balance the amount of carbon in the atmosphere
through photosynthesis, excessive cutting of trees increases the
carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere, thus raising the temperature
of the earth. This is one of the primary reasons for the negative
greenhouse effects and global warming.

Nitrogen Cycle
DEFINITION: The nitrogen cycle refers to the cycle of nitrogen atoms
through the living and non-living systems of Earth. The nitrogen cycle is
vital for life on Earth. Through the cycle, atmospheric nitrogen is converted
to a form which plants can incorporate into new proteins.

Nitrogen Cycle Explained

Nitrogen was originally formed in the hearts of stars through the process of
nuclear fusion. When ancient stars exploded, they flung nitrogen-containing
gases across the Universe. When the Earth was formed, nitrogen gas
was the main ingredient in its atmosphere.
Today, the Earth’s atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen, about 21% oxygen,
and about 1% other gases. This is an ideal balance because too much
oxygen can actually be toxic to cells. In addition, oxygen is flammable.
Nitrogen, on the other hand, is inert and harmless in its gaseous
form. However, nitrogen gas is not accessible to plants and animals
for use in their cells.

Here we will discuss how nitrogen plays a vital role in the chemistry of life –
and how it gets from the atmosphere, into living things, and back again.

Nitrogen Cycle Steps

The basic steps of the nitrogen cycle are illustrated here:
Nitrogen Fixation
In the process of nitrogen fixation, bacteria turn nitrogen gas from the
atmosphere into ammonia.
These nitrogen-fixing bacteria, often called “diazotrophs,” have an enzyme
called “nitrogenase” which combines nitrogen atoms with hydrogen atoms.
Ammonia is a nitrogen compound that can dissolve in water, and is easier
for other organisms’ enzymes to interact with.
Interestingly, the enzyme nitrogenase can only function when
oxygen isn’t present. As a result, organisms that use it have had to
develop oxygen-free compartments in which to perform their nitrogen
fixation!
Common examples of such nitrogen-free compartment sare
the Rhizobium nodules found in the roots of nitrogen-fixing legume plants.
The hard casing of these nodules keeps oxygen out of the pockets
where Rhizobium bacteria do their valuable work of converting nitrogen gas
into ammonia.
Nitrification
In nitrification, a host of soil bacteria participate in turning ammonia into
nitrate – the form of nitrogen that can be used by plants and animals. This
requires two steps, performed by two different types of bacteria.
First, soil bacteria such as Nitrosomonas or Nitrococcus convert ammonia
into nitrogen dioxide. Then another type of soil bacterium,
called Nitrobacter, adds a third oxygen atom to create nitrate.
These bacteria don’t convert ammonia for plants and animals out of the
goodness of their hearts. Rather, they are “chemotrophs” who obtain their
energy from volatile chemicals. By metabolizing nitrogen along with oxygen,
they obtain energy to power their own life processes.
The process can be thought of as a rough (and much less efficient) analog
to the cellular respiration performed by animals, which extract energy from
carbon-hydrogen bonds and use oxygen as the electron acceptor, yielding
carbon dioxide at the end of the process.
Nitrates – the end product of this vital string of bacterial reactions
– can be made artificially, and are the main ingredient in many soil
fertilizers. You may actually hear such fertilizer referred to as “nitrate
fertilizer.” By pumping the soil full of nitrates, such fertilizers allow plants to
grow large quickly, without being dependent on the rate at which nitrogen-
fixing bacteria do their jobs!
Interestingly, high-energy environments such as lightning strikes and
volcanic eruptions can convert nitrogen gas directly into nitrates – but this
doesn’t happen nearly enough to keep modern ecosystems healthy on its
own!

Assimilation
In nitrogen assimilation, plants finally consume the nitrates made by soil
bacteria and use them to make nucleotides, amino acids, and other vital
chemicals for life.
Plants take up nitrates through their roots and use them to make
amino acids and nucleic acids from scratch. Animals that eat the
plants are then able to use these amino acids and nucleic acids in their own
cells.
Ammonification
Now we have moved nitrogen from the atmosphere into the cells of plants
and animals.
Because there is so much nitrogen in the atmosphere, it may seem that the
process could stop there – but the atmosphere’s supply is not infinite,
and keeping nitrogen inside plant and animal cells would
eventually result in big changes to our soil, our atmosphere, and
our ecosystems!
Fortunately, that’s not what happens. In a robust ecosystem like ours,
anywhere that energy has been put into creating an organic chemical, there
is another form of life that is waiting to extract that energy by breaking
those chemical bonds.
A process called “ammonification” is performed by soil bacteria
which decompose dead plants and animals. During the process, these
decomposers break down amino acids and nucleic acids into nitrates and
ammonia and release those compounds back into the soil.
There, the ammonia may be taken up again by plants and nitrifying
bacteria. Alternatively, the ammonia may be converted back into
atmospheric nitrogen through the process of denitrification.
Denitrification
In the final step of the nitrogen cycle, anaerobic bacteria can turn nitrates
back into nitrogen gas.
This process, like the process of turning nitrogen gas into ammonia, must
happen in the absence of oxygen. As such it often occurs deep in the
soil, or in wet environments where mud and muck keep oxygen at bay.
In some ecosystems, this denitrification is a valuable process to prevent
nitrogen compounds in the soil from building up to dangerous levels.

Why is the Nitrogen Cycle Important?

Nitrogen is an essential ingredient for life as we know it. Its unique
chemical bonding properties allow it to create structures such as DNA and
RNA nucleotides, and the amino acids from which proteins are
built. Without nitrogen, these molecules would not be able to exist.
It’s thought that the first nucleotides and amino acids formed naturally
under the volatile conditions of early Earth, where energy sources like
lightning strikes could cause nitrogen and other atoms to react and form
complex structures
This process might have naturally produced self-replicating organic
chemicals – but in order to reproduce and evolve, life needed to figure out
how to make these nitrogen compounds on demand.
Today, “nitrogen fixers” are organisms that can turn nitrogen gas
from the atmosphere into nitrogen compounds that other
organisms can use to produce nucleic acids, amino acids, and
more. These nitrogen fixers are such a vital part of the ecosystem that
agriculture cannot occur without them.
Ancient peoples learned that if they did not alternate growing nitrogen-
consuming crops with nitrogen-fixing crops, their farms would become
fallow and unable to support growth. Today, most artificial fertilizers contain
life-giving nitrogen compounds as their main ingredient to make the soil
more fertile.

Phosphorus Cycle
What is the phosphorus cycle?
Biogeochemical process showing the movement of
phosphorus and its different forms in nature with the help
of living organisms is called the phosphorus cycle.

What are the main sources of phosphorus in the phosphorus

cycle?
Rocks, water, soil, and sediments constitute the primary
nonliving sources of phosphorus, whereas plants and
animals form the major living sources.

What are the five steps of the phosphorus cycle?

1) Weathering
Over a long period, phosphates found in the sedimentary
rocks as PO43-, are leached out of the disintegrated rocks
from its various environmental sources in the form of
inorganic phosphate ions. This process called weathering
acts as the first key step of the phosphorus cycle.
 Other than weathering, volcanic ash, aerosols, and mineral
dust also serve as other significant phosphate sources.
2) Mineralization by plants
Plants absorb organic phosphorus present in soil and
underground water and convert them to inorganic forms for
utilization is called mineralization.
The aquatic plants absorb inorganic phosphorus from lower
layers of water bodies due to their low solubility in water. 
3) Assimilation by animals
Herbivorous and carnivorous animals, including humans,
absorb phosphorus when they consume these plants for
their food, a process known as assimilation. Besides,
animals obtain phosphorus directly from drinking water.
4) Decomposition by microorganisms
Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi decompose
organic phosphates back into the inorganic form, which is
then returned to the soil and water bodies. Phosphorus-
containing compounds may also be carried in the surface
runoff to rivers, lakes, and oceans to form sediments.
5) Geological uplift by tectonic movements
Over long periods, sedimentary rocks containing
phosphorus may be moved from the ocean to the land by a
process called geological uplift. The phosphorus thus
deposited as sediments are ultimately released back into the
environment through the process of weathering, thus
completing the cycle.

Why is the phosphorus cycle important?

 Acts as an essential component of nucleotides and nucleic
acids such as DNA and RNA
 Forms an essential component of our bone and the enamel
of mammalian teeth
 Constitutes an essential component of the phospholipids
present in the biological membranes such as cell membrane
 Forms the exoskeleton structure of insects
 Functions as a buffering agent to maintain a steady
physiochemical condition of the body