CH-14

RESEARCH
PROJECT MADE BY:
VIPRAV CHAWLA
9B-CBSE
ROLL NO. 32
BIOGEOCHEMIC
AL CYCLES
• THE WATER CYCLE
• THE NITROGEN CYCLE
• THE CARBON CYCLE
• THE OXYGEN CYCLE
THE WATER CYCLE
INTRODUCTION TO THE
WATER CYCLE
 The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and
atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes. Liquid
water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to
earth in the form of rain, snow or hail.
 It is a very important phenomena as it distributes water to all the places on Earth.
 Liquid water flows across land, into the ground, and through the ground. Groundwater
moves into plants and evaporates from plants into the atmosphere. Solid ice and snow
can turn directly into gas. The opposite can also take place when water vapour
becomes solid. This way water is transferred through all levels of the Earth.
 IMPORTANCE OF THE
WATER CYCLE
 The water cycle is an extremely important process because it enables the availability of water for
all living organisms and regulates weather patterns on our planet.
 If water didn't naturally recycle itself, we would run out of clean water, which is essential to life.
 Freshwater seems abundant, but when accounting for all the water on Earth, it's in limited supply.
Just three percent of the water on our planet is freshwater. A majority of this water, about two
percent of the world total, is contained in glaciers and ice sheets or stored below ground. The
remaining one percent is found in lakes, rivers and wetland areas or transported through the
atmosphere in the form of water vapor, clouds and precipitation. Rain and snowfall replenish
freshwater sources, making it vital to know when, where and how much water is falling at any
given time.
 As water flows through or over rocks, some of the soluble minerals get dissolved in the water. The
water then mix with various other water bodies and those minerals are used by marine organisms.
THE NITROGEN CYCLE
INTRODUCTION TO THE
NITROGEN CYCLE
 The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen passes from its elemental
form present in the atmosphere into simple nitrogenous compounds present in the soil and
water that can enter the living beings and form complex molecules in them. These complex
molecules are then broken down and released into the atmosphere as nitrogen.
 Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and
denitrification.
 Our atmosphere contains 78% of nitrogen gas. It is present in all living organisms as a
structural component in the form of proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) and
some vitamins. It is also found as a constituent of other compounds, such as alkaloids and
urea.
 ABOUT THE NITROGEN
CYCLE
 The nitrogen cycle is of particular interest to ecologists because nitrogen availability can affect
the rate of key ecosystem processes, including primary production and decomposition. Human
activities such as fossil fuel combustion, use of artificial nitrogen fertilizers, and release of
nitrogen in wastewater have dramatically altered the global nitrogen cycle. Human modification
of the global nitrogen cycle can negatively affect the natural environment system and also human
health.
 The nitrogen cycle involves the following important steps:
1. Nitrogen-Fixation
2. Nitrogen Assimilation
3. Ammonification
4. Nitrification
5. Denitrification
THE CARBON CYCLE
INTRODUCTION TO THE
CARBON CYCLE
 Carbon is found in various forms on the Earth. It occurs in the elemental form as diamond and
graphite.
 In combined state, carbon is found in:

1. Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.

2. Carbonate and hydrogen-carbonate salts in various minerals.
3. Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural salts.
4. Carbon-containing molecules like proteins, fats, nucleic acids, vitamins and carbohydrates.
5. Endoskeletons and exoskeletons of various animals (carbonate salts).
 ABOUT THE CARBON CYCLE
 The carbon cycle describes the process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the
atmosphere to the Earth and then back into the atmosphere.
 Carbon is incorporated in life through plants by photosynthesis. Green plants perform
photosynthesis by utilising CO2 and H2O in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
 All living beings respirate. During respiration, they release CO 2 back into the atmosphere.

 Other processes that release CO2 back into the atmosphere are:

1. Decomposition of dead bodies and organic wastes by decomposers.

2. Combustion of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum on a large scale.
3. Weathering of rocks and volcanic eruptions.
 SUB-TOPIC: THE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
 ABOUT THE GREENHOUSE
EFFECT
 The Greenhouse Effect refers to the phenomena of the heat getting trapped inside the Earth.
This is done by some gases like carbon dioxide, water vapour and chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs).
 Due to the increase in the number of industries and vehicles, the amount of carbon dioxide
emissions have doubled in the last 5 years, leading to more heat getting trapped inside the
Earth which is now leading to Global Warming.
THE OXYGEN CYCLE
INTRODUCTION TO THE
OXYGEN CYCLE
 Oxygen is an abundant element forming about 21% of the atmospheric gases.
 It is an essential component of most biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic
acids and fats.
 In the Earth’s crust, it is found as oxides of many metals and also as carbonate, sulphate,
nitrate and other minerals. It is present in combined form also in carbon dioxide and in water.
 Photosynthesis is the only major process by which oxygen is returned to the atmosphere.
Hence, green plants are very important for maintaining the oxygen levels in the atmosphere.
ABOUT THE OXYGEN CYCLE
 Oxygen cycle refers to the movement of oxygen through the atmosphere (air), Biosphere
(plants and animals) and the Lithosphere (the earth's crust)
 The cyclic flow of oxygen occurs through different forms given below:

1. Photosynthesis: During the day, plants take energy from the sun, carbon di oxide from the
air, and water from the soil to make their food. Their food is simple – glucose. This process
is called photosynthesis. Oxygen is released into the air as a by-product of photosynthesis.
2. Respiration: During respiration, all living beings take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
into the air.
THANK YOU