Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical Cycles

One of the important manifestations of disturbances in the biogeochemical cycles is climatic extremes, recovery of ecosystems after extreme events or the climate change induced global warming itself. This gives the idea of importance of biogeochemical cycles. The circulation of matter (nutrients) in the biospheric ecosystem is accomplished in a series of cyclic pathways which are collectively known as biogeochemical cycle. A biogeochemical cycle is the cycling of chemical elements through the earth’s atmosphere, oceans and sediments as it is affected by the geological and biological cycles. It can be described as a series of compartments of storage reservoirs and pathways between these reservoirs. Biogeochemical cycles can be studied as cycles of individual elements such as carbon cycle. Hydrogen or water cycle, nitrogen cycle etc. Or broadly as Hydrological cycle, mineral cycle, etc.