ENVS195 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Weathering, Phosphorus Cycle, Orogeny

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Environmental Studies
• Course: ENVS195
• Professor: Erin Joakim

Document Summary

What is a biogeochemical cycle: biological, geological and chemical influences. 2 types of cycle types: gaseous cycles - have most of their matter in the atmosphere. Sedimentary cycle - hold most of their matter in the lithosphere. Overall annual net increase in atmospheric carbon (110) (3) (113) Phosphorus cycle: essential for life processes in plants and animals, macronutrient incorporated into many organic molecules, relatively rare on earth"s surface. How do plants and animals use phosphorus: plants, developing healthy seeds, root growth, and stem strength, animals/humans, developing healthy bones(works with ca to build bone tissue) Phosphorus cycle: unlike carbon, isn"t stored as gas in atmosphere, released from rock into the soil, process is called weathering Stored in rock and sediments on ocean floor: chemical weathering- acid rain, chemical in lichens, physical- wind, rain, freezing. Land: plants take up phosphate through roots, animals eat the plants, decomposers return phosphate to the soil.