SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA COLLEGE

National Highway, Sta Clara Sur Pila, Laguna

A.Y 2024-2025

MTS Unit II Lesson No. 1: Earth’s Subsystem and Biogeochemical Cycles

Learning Objectives:
a) Explain the scope of study of Environmental Science
b) Discuss the Interrelationships among components of the Natural World

Environmental Science

The field of science delves into the physical events in the environment. It studies the sources,
reactions, transport, effect, and fate of physical and biological species in the air, water, and soil and
the impact of human activity upon these.

Components of The Natural World

The environment consists of four segments:
1. Atmosphere: The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases,
surrounding the earth:
(a) It sustains life on the earth.
(b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
(c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(d) It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio
waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolet waves below about 300 nm.
The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides, argon, carbon dioxide,
and trace gases.

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes,
rivers, streams, reservoirs, polar icecaps, glaciers, and groundwater.
(i) Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans,
(ii) About 2% of the water resources are locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers.
(iii)Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water rivers, lakes streams, and
groundwater fit to be used for human consumption and other uses.

3. Geosphere: The Geosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring
in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air, and water.

4. Biosphere: The biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with the
environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
Biogeochemical cycles are intricate processes that transfer, change, and store chemicals in the
geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. The term biogeochemical cycles expresses the
interactions among the organic (bio-) and inorganic (geo-) worlds and focuses on the chemistry
(chemical-), and movement (cycles) of chemical elements and compounds. In its simplest form, cycling
describes the movement of elements through various forms and their return to their original state.

Biogeochemical cycles can be classed as gaseous, in which the reservoir is the air or the
oceans (via evaporation), and sedimentary, in which the reservoir is the Earth’s crust.
Gaseous Cycle
Water Cycle
Water is essential for life on Earth. Water connects the major components of the Earth's
climate system in three phases (solid, liquid, and gas): air, clouds, the ocean, lakes, vegetation,
snowpack, and glaciers.

The water cycle depicts the continuous

movement of water throughout the Earth and
atmosphere. It is a complex system that
includes numerous processes. Liquid water
evaporates into water vapor, which
condenses to form clouds and returns to
Earth as rain and snow. Water in various
phases moves through the atmosphere
(transportation). Liquid water travels across
land (runoff), into the ground (infiltration and
percolation), and through the groundwater.
Groundwater enters plants (plant uptake) and
evaporates into the atmosphere
(transpiration). Solid ice and snow can be
converted directly into gas (sublimation). The
opposite can also occur when water vapor
Image Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/QtPZ44q24mVqJso4A solidifies (deposition).

Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is nature's process of
recycling carbon atoms. Carbon is the basis for all life
on Earth.
Carbon moves from one storage to another
through mechanisms like photosynthesis in the food
chain. Plants combine carbon dioxide with water to
create sugar molecules, which animals digest for
energy. Carbon is released back into the atmosphere
or soil.
The ocean is a significant carbon storage site,
holding 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Carbon can be stored for centuries at deep ocean
depths. Rocks and fossil fuels store carbon from
millions of years ago. Erosion, volcanic activity, and
burning fossil fuels release carbon back into the
atmosphere. Image Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/wdeDd8uNy5gj8oYe6
 Oxygen Cycle
Oxygen is the second most abundant gas in the Earth's
atmosphere and a necessary component of most organic
compounds. Though oxygen is transported between the
lithosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere in a variety of
ways, photosynthetic vegetation is primarily responsible for
the oxygen found in the atmosphere. Weathering of
carbonate rock also helps to cycle oxygen through the
Earth's system. Plant transpiration and evaporation cause
some atmospheric oxygen to become bound to water
molecules. Oxygen is also bound to carbon dioxide and
released into the atmosphere when animals breathe.
Image Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/wdeDd8uNy5gj8oYe6

Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is required by all organisms
because it is an essential component of nucleic
acids, proteins, and other organic compounds.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil or legume
root nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen gas to
ammonium, nitrification converts ammonium into
nitrites and nitrates, and denitrification returns
nitrates to the atmosphere. Plants absorb these,
while decomposers release ammonium.
Nitrogen fixation in the biosphere occurs
primarily through three processes: atmospheric fixation
by lightning, industrial fixation, and chemical reactions.
Atmospheric fixation breaks down nitrogen molecules,
producing nitrogen oxides and nitrates, which account
for 5-8% of total nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen and
hydrogen are converted into ammonia through industrial
fixation, which uses a catalyst.
Nitrogen fixation is a crucial process by free-
living or symbiotic bacteria, such as cyanobacteria and
Azotobacter, which incorporate nitrogen into their
macromolecules. These bacteria are essential for
maintaining fertility in semi-aquatic environments like
rice paddies. They also form symbiotic relationships
with legume plants and animals, providing them with
organic nitrogen. Ammonia is the first stable product.
Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus is an essential element in all
living organisms. It contributes significantly to the
structural framework of DNA and RNA.

Steps of the Phosphorus Cycle

The following are the important steps of the

phosphorus cycle:

A. Weathering
B. Absorption by Plants
C. Absorption by Animals
D. Return to the Environment through
Decomposition

Weathering
The rocks contain an abundance of phosphorus. That is why the phosphorus cycle begins in
the Earth's crust. The rocks are broken down to release the phosphate salts. These salts are washed
away and mixed into the soil.

Absorption by plants
Phosphate salts dissolved in water are absorbed by plants. However, the amount of
phosphorus in the soil is very low. That's why farmers use phosphate fertilizers on agricultural land.

Absorption by Animals
Animals absorb phosphorus from plants or by eating plant-eating animals. Plants and animals
complete the phosphorus cycle at a faster rate than rocks.

Return of Phosphorus to the Ecosystem.

When plants and animals die, microorganisms decompose them. During this process, the
organic form of phosphorus is converted into the inorganic form, which is then recycled into soil and
water.

Soil and water will end up in sediments and rocks, which will then release phosphorus through
weathering. Thus, the phosphorus cycle restarts.

References:
https://www.tezu.ernet.in/denvsc/IDC/Study%20material%20Unit%201.pdf
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/freshwater/water-cycle
https://byjus.com/biology/phosphorus-cycle/
Libretexts. (2024a, May 24). 2.5.2: Oxygen Cycle. Geosciences LibreTexts.
https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geography_(Physical)/The_Physical_Environment_(Ritter)/02%3A_The
_Earth_System/2.05%3A_Biogeochemical_Cycle/2.5.02%3A_Oxygen_Cycle
ACROSS ACROSS
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