Lecture 4

Environmental Sciences and
Sustainability
WMES 6101B
Course Teacher:
Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman
Associate professor
Department of Environmental Science
Jahangirnagar University
Email: rahmanmm@juniv.edu
Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?pli=1&user=nzljxJcAAAAJ
Research gate ID: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Md-Mostafizur-Rahman-9/research
Biogeochemical Cycle
Biogeochemical cycles involve the fluxes of

chemical elements among different parts of the
Earth: from living to non-living, from atmosphere to
land to sea, and from soils to plants.
Important Biogeochemical Cycles
The most well-known and important biogeochemical cycles

include:
 The water cycle,

The Carbon cycle,
 The Nitrogen cycle,
 The Oxygen cycle,
 The Phosphorus cycle
Importance of Biogeochemical Cycle
 Biogeochemical cycles are the processes where in different

elements on earth surface are interconverted such that
autotrophs can best utilize them.
 The flow of energy takes place from primary producers to

consumers. The process involves transfer of energy in
terms of food and also involves chemical conversion.
 All of the biogeochemical cycles are mainly involved proper

maintenance of ecosystem with proper energy flow across
primary producers and consumers at tertiary stage.
The Carbon Cycle
The Carbon Cycle
“The carbon cycle is the

biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is
exchanged among the biosphere, geosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.”
It is one of the most important cycles of the earth and
allows for carbon to be recycled and reused throughout the
biosphere and all of its organisms.
The Carbon Cycle
The major reservoirs of Carbon
The following major reservoirs of carbon interconnected by

pathways of exchange:
The Atmosphere
The Terrestrial biosphere
The Oceans
The Sediments including fossil fuels
The Earth's interior (carbon from the Earth's mantle and
crust is released to the atmosphere and hydrosphere by
volcanoes and geothermal systems)
the Carbon Cycle
the Carbon Cycle
 Carbon exists in the Earth's

atmosphere primarily as the gas
carbon dioxide (CO2). Although it
is a small percentage of the
atmosphere (0.03%), it plays a
vital role in supporting life.
the Carbon Cycle
 Burning of biomass can also transfer substantial
amounts of carbon to the atmosphere.
 Carbon may also be circulated within the

biosphere when dead organic matter (such as
peat) becomes incorporated in the geosphere.
Trees and other green plants

convert carbon dioxide into
carbohydrates during
photosynthesis, releasing
oxygen in the process.
the Carbon Cycle
The phytoplankton, get their

carbon from atmospheric
carbon dioxide that has
dissolved in ocean water.
the Carbon Cycle
The Importance of the Carbon Cycle
 Carbon is an essential element for all life, so understanding
how it moves helps us to understand biological processes
and factors that influence them
 One form carbon takes is the greenhouse gas carbon

dioxide, CO2. Increased levels of carbon dioxide insulate the
Earth, causing temperatures to rise. Understanding how
carbon dioxide is absorbed and released helps us
understand the climate and predict global warming.
The Importance of the Carbon Cycle
 Carbon is not in balance, so it's important to learn where it is
being stored and released. The rate at which carbon is
deposited into living organisms is not the same as the rate it
is returned to the Earth.
 The carbon cycle is inextricably linked to other chemical
cycles, including those of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur,
as well as to the global hydrological cycle.
How anthropogenic activities
disrupt the carbon cycle in
Bangladesh?
The Nitrogen Cycle
The Nitrogen Cycle
“The nitrogen cycle is the process by

which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical
forms. This transformation can be carried out via both
biological and non-biological processes.”
Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include:
1. Nitrogen fixation
2. Nitrification
3. Ammonification
4. Denitrification
Nitrogen enters the living world from the atmosphere via nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
This nitrogen and nitrogenous waste from animals is then processed back into
gaseous nitrogen by soil bacteria, which also supply terrestrial food webs with the
organic nitrogen they need.
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen fixation
“Nitrogen fixation is the natural process, either
biological or abiotic, by which nitrogen (N 2) in the atmosphere is
converted into ammonia (NH3).”
Nitrogen fixation is accomplished by

1.Soil bacteria
2.Rhizobium bacteria
3.Blue green algae in water and soil
4.Lighting
Ammonification
This is another process by which ammonia can be generated.
Organic remains of plants and animals are broken down in the soil
by some bacteria to release ammonia into the soil. These dead
and waste matter is used by these microorganisms as food and
they release ammonia into the soil
Denitrification
“Denitrification is a microbially facilitated
process of nitrate (NO3) reduction that may ultimately
produce molecular nitrogen (N2) through a series of
intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products.”
This occurs because in deep layers of soil, oxygen is not

available and the soil bacteria use these nitrogen
compounds instead of oxygen.
What is the importance of the nitrogen cycle?
• the nitrogen cycle helps bring in the inert nitrogen from the
air into the biochemical process in plants and then to
animals.
• During the process of ammonification, the bacteria help
degrade decomposing animal and plant matter. This helps
in naturally cleaning up the environment.
• Due to the nitrogen cycle, nitrates and nitrites are released
into the soil which helps in enriching the soil with nutrients
needed for cultivation.
• As plants use nitrogen for their biochemical processes,
animals obtain the nitrogen and nitrogen compounds from
plants. Nitrogen is needed as is an integral part of the cell
composition. It is due to the nitrogen cycle that animals are
also able to utilize the nitrogen present in the air.
What are the climate and air-quality impacts of
agricultural practices on the nitrogen cycle and
how will these change with climate, with changes
in agricultural practices and with increases in
food demand?
Water cycle
Hydrologic cycle where in movement of water across
various spheres of earth takes place. Water cycle
involves various processes such as
• Precipitation,
• Snowmelt,
• Infiltration,
• Evaporation,
• Condensation, and
• Evapotranspiration.
A water molecule’s journey
Earth’s Reservoirs
• The places where water spends time are called
reservoirs. The ocean is the largest reservoir Freshwater
reservoirs include rivers and lakes, groundwater, the
atmosphere, glaciers and permafrost, which is water
frozen in the soil.
• The largest freshwater reservoir by far is glaciers. More
than 68 percent of all freshwater is locked up in ice
Evaporation, Transpiration and Sublimation
• Are the processes by which water enters the
atmosphere.
• Evaporation is the transformation of water from a liquid
state into gas, and that is how water gets from the
ocean, lakes and rivers to the atmosphere.
• Sublimation is the direct conversion of water from a
solid to gaseous state without becoming liquid first. This
is how water molecules move from glaciers and
permafrost into the atmosphere.
• Transpiration is the release of water molecules from
plant leaves into the surrounding air.
Infiltration and Runoff
Infiltration and runoff are the ways that water interacts
with the solid Earth. When water soaks into the soil, it’s
called infiltration. How fast it soaks depends on how much
water is already in the soil, how tightly packed the grains
are in the soil, and gravity.
Runoff is the flow of water over the surface of the Earth,
either because the ground is already saturated or it’s
impermeable. Runoff is the main way that water erodes
rock and soil, shaping and changing the landscape over
time.
Water is constantly moving within and between reservoirs,
carrying heat and transporting nutrients, minerals and
sediments as it goes. These water cycle steps not only
determine where life can exist, but they also shape the
environments life occupies.
Water cycle
Human influences to biogeochemical cycle
• Human activities have greatly increased

carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and
nitrogen levels in the biosphere.
• Human activities have mobilized Earth elements
and accelerated their cycles – for example, more
than doubling the amount of reactive nitrogen that
has been added to the biosphere since pre-
industrial times., Reactive nitrogen is any nitrogen
compound that is biologically, chemically, or
radiatively active, like nitrous oxide and ammonia,
but not nitrogen gas (N2).
Human influences to biogeochemical cycle
Altered biogeochemical cycles combined with climate

change increase the vulnerability of
• biodiversity,
• food security,
• human health, and
• water quality to a changing climate
Climate change is having, and will continue to have,

impacts on biogeochemical cycles, which will alter future
impacts on climate and affect our capacity to cope with
coupled changes in climate, biogeochemistry, and other
factors.
References
1) Manahan, Stanley E. 2000 “Environmental
Chemistry”, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton: CRC
Press LLC, New York. 7th Edition
2) Miller, G. T, 2004 “Environmental Sciences”, Thomson

Asia Pte. Ltd., Singapore. 10th Edition
3) Textbook of Environmental Studies by Erach

Bharucha, Universities Press, India, 2005
4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_rain
How the water cycle is disrupting in
Dhaka city? Write in 3-5 points.

Lecture 4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 4

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 4

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Environmental Sciences and

Biogeochemical cycles involve the fluxes of

The most well-known and important biogeochemical cycles

 The water cycle,

 Biogeochemical cycles are the processes where in different

 The flow of energy takes place from primary producers to

 All of the biogeochemical cycles are mainly involved proper

“The carbon cycle is the

The following major reservoirs of carbon interconnected by

 Carbon exists in the Earth's

 Carbon may also be circulated within the

Trees and other green plants

The phytoplankton, get their

 One form carbon takes is the greenhouse gas carbon

“The nitrogen cycle is the process by

Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include:

Nitrogen fixation is accomplished by

This occurs because in deep layers of soil, oxygen is not

• Human activities have greatly increased

Altered biogeochemical cycles combined with climate

Climate change is having, and will continue to have,

2) Miller, G. T, 2004 “Environmental Sciences”, Thomson

3) Textbook of Environmental Studies by Erach

You might also like